Ouachita Stories

The 23 finalist selections of Ouachita Baptist University’s 2nd Annual Juried Student Show are currently on exhibit in Ouachita’s Verser Gallery through April 16. The finalist pieces include a best in show as well as first, second, third and honorable mention in the categories of photography, graphic design and studio art.

“This is an opportunity for students to show their work publicly and to be evaluated by a professional from the industry,” said David Bieloh, chair of OBU’s department of art. “So far, this competition has been a success. I look forward also to a successful show.”

The competition grew from last year’s 80 entries, with 25 finalists chosen by juror Carey Roberson, associate professor of photography at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to a total of 95 student entries this year, with 23 finalists chosen by juror Kathy Strause, chair of the department of art at Henderson State University.

“I think the bigger this competition gets, the more involved we will see all of our Art and Design majors becoming in their areas of interest,” Bieloh said.

Greta James, a junior studio art major from Little Rock, Ark., earned this year’s best in show recognition for her single figure in cardboard piece. James described her piece as a “close-up of a person making a funny face.”

“I decided to enter the competition because, as an artist, the experience of having your work displayed in a juried competition is always good,” James said. “But it also helps out the art department and lets the campus enjoy and appreciate the artwork that we have been working on all year.”

Emma Smith, first place winner in the graphic design category and a senior mass communications major from Paron, Ark., entered a poster titled “Panache” that she created for an art show. Since panache is French for “plume,” Smith decided to use a peacock feather motif in shades of teal with one bright red feather, which represents panache, or someone with flare.

“It’s such an honor to know that of all the pieces out there, someone liked mine enough to pick it as a winner,” Smith said. “I think it is just really affirming because it is easy to doubt yourself when you compare your work to other people’s.”

After OBU’s show is over, the finalist pieces will travel to the Elberta Arts Center in downtown Nashville, Ark., as part of an exhibit for the Elberta Arts Council and Humanities, a non-profit arts organization founded by Marie A. Martin in 2000 featuring various local artists.

The graphic design category winners were: first place to Emma Smith for “Panache” poster; second place to Hunter Soper, a freshman graphic design major from Lewisville, Texas, for “Brahms” poster; third place to Jared Tohlen, a senior graphic design major from Raymore, Mo., for “Gone” system; and honorable mention to Melissa Richardson, a senior graphic design major from The Woodlands, Texas, for “Brooklyn Academy of Music.”

The photography category winners were: first place to Korrie Browning, a Christian and Biblical studies major from Cypress, Texas, for “Walkway Panorama” as well as honorable mention for her photo “Couple”; second place to Kara Humble, a senior mass communications major from Brinkley, Ark., for “Map on Road”; and third place to Jared Tohlen for “Dock with Chair by Lake.”

The studio art category winners were: first place to Logan Oakley, a junior studio art major from DeKalb, Texas, for “Sheep Collage”; second place to Elizabeth Baker, a senior studio art major from Piggott, Ark., for “Tree with Window”; third place to Gabri Sanders, a senior psychology major from Pekanbaru, Indonesia, for “Ceramic Cup”; and honorable mention to Mitsuko Humble, a senior studio art major from Susono, Japan, for “George Washington.”

Other finalists included: Lindsey Campbell, a senior business administration and management major from Houston, Texas; Mallory George (2 pieces), a senior communication science and disorder major from Dardanelle, Ark.; John Sanders, a music theory and composition major from Pearcy, Ark.; Joseph Stout (2 pieces), a senior graphic design major from White Hall, Ark.; and Adam Wheat, a senior mass communications major from Ruston, La.

The show in Ouachita’s Verser Gallery is open to the public and free of charge. For more information, contact David Bieloh at [email protected].

By Rebecca Stone