The WNMU Francis McCray Gallery of Art held a well-attended reception to celebrate the opening of its Juried Student Art Exhibit on February 29, 2024. The exhibit showcases the diversity of art created on campus, from painting to ceramics to sculpture.
“The innovative and divergent variety of work that has been executed by the students brings a fresh modern energy to this year’s exhibition,” said McCray Gallery Director Jill Winburn, “With the help of their professors, students really jumped into preparing their work for presentation and that has really made all the difference in this year’s juried exhibition. Their pride and delight in their work really shines.”
Expressive Arts major Jasper Eyrich-Bingham noted how participating in the show allowed him a different perspective from what he has as a student in class. “I can get good feedback and engagement from peers and professors,” he said, “but there is something I find to be very profound about showing art to the public. Anybody is free to engage with my ideas and concepts and give me feedback, compliments, or criticism. It’s also interesting to see how my art interacts with the art of others in ways that are unexpected.”
Expressive Arts major Victoria Prejean agreed that the exhibit gave her new perspective as an artist and said that it was a privilege to have her work on display. “I was so excited and grateful that my work was exhibited in the gallery,” she said, “It is an amazing space that has held artwork from many amazing artists, so to share that space was wonderful.”
Prejean was awarded the newly created Phoebe Lawrence Ceramic Award for “Bud Vase,” a highly decorated ceramic vessel. “This piece was inspired by vintage perfume bottles as well as funerary vases,” she said, “I wanted to create a vase that would hold a singular rose, that was surrounded by gold gilding and extravagant decorations. I also used marigold motifs as a nod to my Chicano lineage and to my mom.”
Prejean said she felt especially honored by the award because she had a chance to meet Phoebe Lawrence, for whom the award was named. “Phoebe was an amazing lady who I was able to meet and get to know before she passed, so winning this award in her memory is such a special achievement,” said Prejean.
Six other student artists won awards for their work. First Place went to Jenny Castoñon for her digital illustration, “La Carta,” Second Place went to Natalee Drissell for her sculpture, “Skeleton Key,” and Third Place was awarded to Karol Mohr for the graphic design digital print, “Conceptual Triptych of Vans.”
The Light Art Space Recognition Award, another newly created prize, was given to two artists this year, Felix Gutierrez for his lithograph, “The Search for Paradise,” and Chris Martinez for “Its More than a Car.”
The New Mexico Watercolor Society Southern Chapter Award went to Zandra Darrow for “Horse Watercolor.”
The Juried Student Exhibit will be on display until March 28.