Gallery features 72 creative pieces of different mediums
The 55th annual USC Student Art Exhibition opened on March 1 at McMaster Gallery and will run through March 25, and consists of 72 works created by students in the graduate and undergraduate art programs. The works span a large array of medium, from drawings, photography and painting, to multimedia sculptural installations and video.
The exhibition was juried by James Arendt, a USC alumnus and the curator of the Fine Arts Building gallery at South Carolina State University.
“Together, they represent the tangible expressions of ideas, concepts of ideas, concepts and concerns of an entire new generation of artists produced within the community of creative scholars at USC,” Arendt said in his juror’s statement.
The seven winners and five honorable mentions all received monetary compensation for their achievements, with prizes ranging from $50 to $300 for the top award.
The top award, “Best in Show,” was awarded to Christina Carlisle for her piece entitled “Dress Form.” A mixed media piece, it included a wooden dressmaker’s dummy, incorporating thread, fabric rippers, straight pins, a variety of scissors and even Mark-B-Gone. The piece holds just about everything one could possibly need to sew a dress, except the fabric.
Emily Lyles’ oil panel painting entitled “Going Under” won second place for the graduate pieces. It depicts two doctors on the periphery of the large painting pushing a large gas mask toward the viewer, who can almost feel its effects as the edges of the panel seem to blur into the cool-colored long strokes that make up the rest of the work.
Grace Rockafellow showcased a monoprint entitled “Love Letter to My Mom” that received an honorable mention. The piece seemed to be a print of leaves layered over swatches of fabrics and even lace, giving the entire work a very delicate and nostalgic feeling.
Matthew Price’s piece entitled “Pandoras” was an interesting study even though it didn’t win an award. The piece depicts four faces in various stages of distress in charcoal on cardboard. The faces, wrinkled and ailing, are experiencing the affects of the opening of Pandora’s box from Greek mythology, which contained all of the evils of the world. Even the cardboard, parts of which folded over the faces, seems to evoke a dilapidated feel.
Although 72 works were presented, there were still works that weren’t included in the show.
“Those who experienced the cold hand of rejection this year: You don’t have to like it,” Arendt said in his juror’s statement. “I’d encourage you to hold on to that sense of dismissal and prove me wrong a thousand times over with wonderful work your irrational hatred of me will fuel.”
The McMaster Gallery is located at 1615 Senate St. It is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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