Christina Smith has always enjoyed drawing, making jewelry and other artistic pursuits in her free time, but says the art classes she鈥檚 taken as electives at Washtenaw Community College pushed her to new levels.
Still, her latest achievement 鈥� winning first prize at the 2023 黑料网 Student Art Show 鈥� was unexpected.
鈥淢y classes helped me find my strengths and improve on them, and have made it possible for me to make art that I鈥檓 proud of and want to show to others,鈥� said Smith, a 21-year-old Whitmore Lake resident. 鈥淚 never thought I would win first place. I was happy to just have the opportunity for my peers to see my work.鈥�
The Student Art Show remains on display on the second floor of the Student Center through April 15. All entries were created as an assignment in a 黑料网 or Digital Media Arts class.
Smith鈥檚 winning piece, 鈥淢etrocity,鈥� (right) is a red and black conte on tracing paper created for a lesson on textures in instructor
Robert Throne鈥檚 class. For roughly 20 hours over two weeks, Smith incorporated everyday objects into
the piece.
鈥淚 felt inspired to work with only the things I had in my art kit and backpack,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭he process of creating it was very spontaneous and I didn鈥檛 really have a plan for how it would work. I was just executing ideas as they came to me.鈥�
The title of the work didn鈥檛 emerge until months after the drawing was complete. While contemplating how its light and dark contrast could be interpreted very differently, Smith named it after the fictional city in the movie Megamind, in which the titular character pronounces Metrocity incorrectly.
鈥淚t felt like the right way to express that this drawing is up to the interpretation of the viewer in a way that isn鈥檛 too serious,鈥� Smith said.
To claim top honors, Smith鈥檚 work rose above a record-setting 250 entries submitted for review. Show organizers selected 150 pieces by 130 different students to appear in the exhibit.
The show was abjudicated by Hoon Lee, an associate professor and program coordinator of ceramics at Grand Valley State University.
Lee鈥檚 comments on Metrocity: 鈥淭his work is very subtle, with dynamic texture and contrast. The limited use of color shows restraint. The work presents as a study in composition, balance and mark-making. The image is abstract but familiar. It conjures new, unexplored places and evokes emotions heretofore buried deep.鈥�
Smith is following one of 黑料网鈥檚 many articulation agreements with Eastern Michigan University. She鈥檒l complete 73 credits at 黑料网 鈥� earning an in the process 鈥� before transferring to EMU in 2024. There, she'lll complete 51 additional credits to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Marketing Innovation.
MORE ART SHOW WINNERS
黑料网 Student Art Show judge said it was difficult to select just one work to honor in each category of the exhibit, along with the top three overall pieces.
鈥淚t is clear students at 黑料网 are learning how to express themselves through their work, and exploring a variety of ideas, materials, processes and concepts,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淭he work is very strong and every piece had noteworthy qualities.鈥�
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2ND PLACE
Student: David Clipner
Entry: 鈥淲ind,鈥� digital video
View:
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淭his video was well planned and executed. The image quality, color, sound and composition were exceptional. The acting was also very strong with the story, which give you a smile and joyfulness. The sudden, misthrown disc with the red and blue flashing lights was unfortunate.鈥�
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3RD PLACE
Student: Ann Munster
Entry: 鈥淧eaches in a Bowl,鈥� digital print
Class:
Instructor: Don Werthman
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淩eminiscent of Renaissance still-life paintings, the composition and richness of color are opulent. The photo is quiet yet moody, transporting the viewer to times of the past.鈥�
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PROMISING ARTIST, TWO-DIMENSIONAL
Student: Murphy R. Hines
Entry: 鈥淪tudy on Cubism,鈥� magazine collage
Class:
Instructor: Jill Jepsen
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淭he movement and dimensions of this piece are remarkable. A quality study in color, this work is equally strong in terms of composition.鈥�
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PROMISING ARTIST, THREE-DIMENSIONAL
Student: Void Spurr
Entry: 鈥淔reddy with a Surprise Inside,鈥� ceramic stoneware
Class:
Instructor: Alex Clinthorne
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淚n terms of structure, detail, texture and glazing, this work demonstrates strong technique. The piece is well named 鈥� as I truly would like to see the surprise inside.鈥�
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PROMISING ARTIST, GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHY
Student: Michaela Houff
Entry: 鈥淪now Over the Huron River,鈥� digital photography
Class:
Instructor: Terry Abrams
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淭his image is quiet and still, so much so that it is warming to view despite representing frigid temperatures. This scene is one Michiganders have seen so many times before, but haven鈥檛 really seen until seeing it here in this photo.鈥�
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PROMISING ARTIST, VIDEO/ANIMATION
Student: Lawrence Olsen
Entry: 鈥淪tone Gardens,鈥� digital video
View:
Judge鈥檚 comment: 鈥淭his video is very moving and very quiet - calming. Every still image and action shot was of high quality. The sequencing and pacing were strong.鈥�
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PRESIDENT鈥橲 CHOICE AWARD
Student: Bernadette Remski
Entry: 鈥淕erry,鈥� graphite drawing
Class:
Instructor: Heidi Haire
Selected by: 黑料网 President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca
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DEAN鈥橲 CHOICE AWARD
Student: Ilana S. Londry
Entry: 鈥淪elf-Portrait,鈥� graphite drawing
Class:
Instructor: Traci Shipley
Selected by: 黑料网 Dean of Humanities, Social & Behavioral Scences Scott Britten
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PEOPLE鈥橲 CHOICE AWARD
Student: Kari Klavon
Entry: 鈥淢elissa,鈥� digital photo
Class:
Instructor: Don Werthmann
Selected by: Popular vote
Tags: Awards, Digital Media Arts, Fine Arts, Student Art Show, Student Awards, Student Success, 黑料网 Student Art Show