School of Humanities and Social Sciences opens new Arts Annex

Ed Thornburg, curator, looks on as metalsmithing student Jamison Lipps works with the forge in the new Arts Annex at IU East.

The annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition awards reception was held October 20 at Indiana University East. The competition was originated by Tom Thomas in 1978 with open judging. The exhibit is presented by First Bank Richmond.

Of the 184 entered works, 42 were selected for the exhibit and determined to be the award winners by three jurors. This year’s jurors were Mark Chepp, executive director of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth, Ohio; Charlotte Gordon, artistic director of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center; and David Michael Slonim, abstract artist.

The exhibit will be on display in The Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway, located in Whitewater Hall, now through December 21.

As part of the reception to announce the WVAC entrants exhibit, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted an open house for the newly constructed Arts Annex, located behind Tom Raper Hall near the patio and arts classrooms. The Arts Annex provides students in metalsmithing and sculpture courses with a new space to work on projects.

Students also have access to gas reduction firings for ceramics and outdoor traditional Japanese Raku firings. The annex will house all gas kilns and fire forming equipment for metalsmithing and contain equipment for “hot metal” crafts such as blacksmithing, steel-cutting and welding.

Top Awards for the 2017 WVAC Exhibit
First Place/Best of Show

• Julie Byrne, Groveport, Ohio, “A Little Wrong,” Clay

Second Place

• Amy Kollar Anderson, Dayton, Ohio, “Ink Well,” Acrylic on panel
• Scott Dooley, Springfield, Ohio, “Three Vases,” Hand-built porcelain
• Rob Millard-Mendez, Evansville, Indiana, “Tends to Lash Out,” Wood, steel, paint, mousetraps

Third Place

• Susan Carlson, Cincinnati, Ohio, “I See,” Mixed media
• Jessica Deering, Pataskala, Ohio, “Aegis,” Oil on panel
• Martha Gaustad, Toledo, Ohio, “Box Series #1,” Oil on canvas
• Kathryn Mecca, Lafayette, Indiana, “Barbie No.3,” Oil on canvas

Honorable Mention

• Megan Caldwell Chandler, Carmel, Indiana, “Blood Coming Out of Her Wherever,” Hand-bound artist book, and “Imposter,” Acrylic and collage on panel
• Jim Ferringer, West Lafayette, Indiana, “Pier Cove Pebbles,” Acrylic
• Tim Norris, Muskegon, Michigan, “Fire Pits,” Charcoal, pastel, embers, coal particles, polymer clay.

  For more information on the exhibit, call Ed Thornburg, curator, at (765) 973-8605 or visit iue.edu/gallery/competition/2017.php.