Colorful, creative art from photography to oil paintings to chicken-wire anatomy figures are all represented in Ventura College’s annual student art show. The exhibit is on display in both the New Media Gallery and Gallery 2 through May 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
The purpose of the exhibit is “to highlight the students’ work, to give awards and to encourage students to further their education,” said Pam Huth, a VC sculpture instructor. It opened April 24 with an artists’ reception, where student artists received awards.
Crowds of students, faculty, friends and family members gathered around the art building’s courtyard on opening night.
“I’m excited,” said Bob Moskowitz, chairman of the VC art department. “We’re giving out $7,700 of scholarship awards. It’s a wonderful show.”
The funds for the student scholarships and gallery were raised from a silent auction that was held in the library last month, Moskowitz said.
Cheering and clapping continued as awards were given out. Best of Show was announced last; the $1,000 award went to art student Jack Halbert. The entire faculty chose the recipient of this award, Moskowitz said.
Halbert calls his winning oil painting “ProposingtoWar.” The 49-by-84-inch piece, striking with its blend of bright oranges, reds and yellows, can be seen in Gallery 2.
The Best of Show award is named the Barney Dietz Award, in honor of the late chairman of the art department. “Dietz was an advocate for the department; he created the tradition,” Moskowitz said. “Dietz build the art department to be the best department in the state.”
Professional artists from outside the college were invited by the VC faculty to judge the students’ work.
Students from photography, multimedia, ceramics, sculpture, computer graphics, color and design and many more art classes participate in this annual event. “It’s a really concise representation of levels and skills that are taught here at VC,” Huth said. “The student artwork is from beginning to intermediate to advanced; all levels.”
“It’s the end of the semester, springtime, and students are finishing up their last projects,” Huth said. “Students have a chance to show off their art talents.”
In the exhibition, students’ artwork is labeled either NFS or has a sale price ranging from $44 to $1,000. The money goes to the students and they donate 15 percent to 20 percent to the VC art galleries, said Sharon Coughran, a VC art instructor and gallery director.
Students received several scholarships of $50, $100, $500 and $1000, as well as additional awards. The $500 Rosalie Feldman scholarship was awarded to Sovanna West. The $1,000 Prescott Trust scholarship went to Adam Martinez for his consistent production of work and portfolio submitted.
Virginia Beale received the Award of Excellence for a snow painting of Woodstock, N.Y., titled “My Sister’s Driveway.” It’s in the New Media Gallery priced at $700, Beale said. “It’s cool,” said Karl Stoll, Beale’s friend from class. “It’s a painting on multiple levels. I’m a fan of hers.”
Marilyn Cahill received the Award of Merit for her mixed acrylic painting titled “Grimes Canyon Road.”
“I painted this subject because I travel this road about three times a week,” Cahill said. Cahill’s painting can be seen in Gallery 2 and is on sale for $875.
For the show opening, self-portrait chicken-wire figures were placed around the reception courtyard. The students put together these anatomy sculptures by measuring each body part on themselves and then forming the chicken-wire to be proportionally correct to fit their body size, Huth said. The three-dimensional figures are embellished with articles of the students’ clothing that reveal their personalities, she said.
The successful event continued with people lining up for a table full of refreshments and tours of the art galleries.
