CONWAY — Several students from the River Valley and Ozark Edition readership area have won awards in the 2011 annual Student Competitive Art Exhibition on display in the Baum Gallery of Fine Art at the University of Central Arkansas.
A reception for all winners was held March 10 in McCastlain Hall. Juror Doug Cason of Houston, Texas, selected the artworks exhibited and designated eight awards to recognize excellence, with cash awards provided by the UCA Department of Art.
Amber Lea of Russellville won the Grand Prize. Lea, the daughter of Stacy and Bill Rowlett and Lesley and Ancil Lea III, entered a ceramic installation she titled Deductive.
Additional selected artists from the River Valley and Ozark area and their artworks include Jessica Camp of Conway, the daughter of Donna and Jim Camp, for the charcoal drawing Sacred Bridge; Tyler Gunther of Conway, the son of Mary Beth and Raymond Gunther, for the installation Trash Bag Couture; Rachel A. Halford of Conway, the daughter of Susan and Pat Halford, for the graphic poster Female Genital Mutilation; Patty Hearst from Greers Ferry, the daughter of Julie and Tom Hearst, for the acrylic painting Process #1; Jennifer Hicks of Quitman, the daughter of Kathleen and David Hicks, for the sculpture Fright; Julie Isom of Conway, the wife of Phillip Isom, for the ceramic construction tête-à-tête; Chris Lewallen of Conway, the son of Terry and Jim Lewallen, for the etching Treant; Howard Neal of Clinton, the son of Tracy and Paul Neal, for the alabaster and metal sculpture Sprocket Whale; and Zachary Noland of Morrilton, the son of Charles Noland, for the drawing Birds.
Cason selected 60 artworks and seven installations from 227 works and 12 installations submitted, representing 48 artists from the 101 current UCA students who entered the competition free of charge.
The selected works represent sophomore, junior, senior and post-baccalaureate students with a range of majors, including art, art history, art education, English, creative writing and psychology.
Price lists for the works are available, and all sales are coordinated directly with the artist.
The gallery is in McCastlain Hall and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Admission is free.
For more information, call (501) 450-5793.