Greg Morgan
Features Reporter

You don’t have to be an art major to make art, and there is certainly a multitude of students at Mesa State who are not art majors but can draw, paint, or sculpt. Now those students have a chance to show off their work.
On March 23, students will be able to submit their art for judging in the 34th Annual Student Art Show. Artists can drop off their pieces at the Art Center anytime between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The two jurors are Dale Russell Smith, a professional artist, and Jeanne Durr, a gallery owner.
The show is hosted by art students of this semester’s section of Exhibition and Visual Arts Management. One of those students is Michel Goe.
“This show is the primary focus of this class,” Goe said.
In the class, students learn how to plan, produce, and promote art shows like the Student Art Show. The class, however, has decided to eliminate the use of a theme in this year’s show.
“A theme suggests that this show is exclusive,” art student Lauren Ohlson said, “so we wanted to open it up to all art.”
The only requirements: the artist must be a Mesa State student, and the art must be ready to hang on the wall.
“They don’t have to be full-time students, either,” said Cassie Fergeson, another member of the class.
Paintings must be hung with wire, and drawings need to be covered with glass in order to be considered. After works have been submitted, they are then judged by the jurors. The submission date is March 23, and the show opens to the public on March 26. The jurors discuss the submitted works in a feedback session, and the winning pieces are then announced at the reception April 2 at 7 p.m.
“Normally, we have around 200 works submitted,” said Deborah Snider, assistant professor of art, who teaches the class. This year has marked a change in the show since last year.
“We can actually have more pieces in the show this year,” Fergeson said.
This year the Art Center was able to offer an extra gallery to the group.
“We are very lucky to be working with the Art Center. It’s a very generous venue,” Ohlson said.
The Student Art Show really gives Mesa State students a chance to let their voices be heard, especially for the students who work almost nonstop on their art.
“It’s not just a day job for us,” Goe said. “It’s a lifestyle.”
The students’ hard work will not go unnoticed in the show. A total of $650 in prize money will be awarded. Pieces can receive recognition as either 1st or 2nd place winners, Best in Show, or Honorable Mention.
After the reception, the show will remain open until April 12. All students and community members are welcome to come to the reception on April 2. There will be live music, food, and of course, art. The Art Center is located at the corner of Orchard Avenue and 7th Avenue.
u
gmorgan@mesastate.edu