Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Art Club will host its annual Juried Student Art Exhibit Feb. 1-March 2 in Ouachita’s Hammons Art Gallery, located in Mabee Fine Arts Center. This year’s juror was John Deering, award-winning cartoonist and illustrator for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Winners will be announced at a reception Feb. 12, 6-7 to p.m., in Hammons Gallery. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

A variety of student work will be featured in the exhibit, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and other media.

“Art Club hosts this event every year to spotlight artists on campus,” said Art Club President Chad Satchell, a sophomore graphic design major from Frisco, Texas. “You don't have to be an art major to join or win which is really cool because it opens up a unique opportunity for so many other students.

“For art majors that do make the show or even win, it's a nice boost on their resume, and for them personally, to have their art in a professional show like this,” Satchell added. “It's also good practice for students learning how to professionally mount and hang their artwork and set up a gallery.”

Students with work selected for inclusion in the exhibit are: Perri Adcock, a senior graphic design major from Prosper, Texas; Kelsey Bond, a junior studio art and mass communications double major from Alexander, Ark.; Byron Burrell, a sophomore studio art and biology major from Conway, Ark.; Emily Flowers, a sophomore graphic design major from Bismarck, Ark.; Courtney Gibson, a junior graphic design major from Dermott, Ark.; Tricia Griffin, a sophomore graphic design major from Highland Village, Texas; Melanie Herring, a senior studio art major from Rison, Ark.; Katie King, a junior biology major from Little Rock, Ark.; Bethany Lenards, a freshman graphic design major from Jonesboro, Ark.; Kinzie Schmidt, a freshman graphic design major from Little Rock, Ark.; Katelyn Smith, a senior art and education double major from Roe, Ark.; Katie Stanage, a senior piano performance major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.; and Janet Whytock, a freshman studio art major from King William’s Town, South Africa.

Deering, who is chief editorial cartoonist and illustrator at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, also is a sculptor, art restorer and political speaker and is well known for his “Strange Brew” series. With political cartoons featured in Time, Newsweek, the Sunday New York Times and appearing on broadcast networks such as ABC, Deering has received the Fischetti Award for cartooning given by Columbia College and the Berryman Award given by the National Press Foundation.

Two of Deering’s well-known sculptures include the Arkansas Medal of Honor Memorial at the state capitol and the sculpture of the Little Rock Nine at Central High School. He studied fine art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Little Rock and have three children.

Regular gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. For more information, contact OBU’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

 

By Brooke Zimny