Martin Museum To Feature Baylor Artists Through April 30

by Amanda Lewis, Student Newswriter

Baylor University's Art Student and Studio Art Faculty Exhibitions will run through April 30 in the University Gallery and the Martin Museum of Art at the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. The joint exhibition will feature original pieces of ceramics, sculpture, paintings, drawings, prints, photography and fiber created by Baylor students and faculty alike.
Entry in the student exhibition required selection by guest juror Mark Anderson, the Regents Professor of Art at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Anderson, a past chair of the A&M-Corpus Christi art department, specializes in printmaking and drawing. Art students of various skill levels submitted 200 entries for consideration, of which Anderson chose 100 for display.
Anderson also awarded 10 pieces of student artwork with Juror's Choice and Juror's Merit distinctions during an opening reception held Thursday, March 31, in the Martin Museum.
"He was very impressed with the consistently high quality of the artwork, and this actually made it a difficult show to judge," said Karin Gilliam, director of the Martin Museum. "He remarked that it looked more like an MFA exhibition than an undergraduate exhibition."
The following students were recognized with Juror's Choice awards: Tarra Ebeling won $100 for her sculpture, "Margret Piader;" Daniel Saenz won $100 for his drawing, "Orange Nude;" Tiffany McMordie won $75 for her fiber, "Window to Reality;" and Sara Nordling won $75 for her fiber, "Tide Pools."
Six students- Caroline Cape, Mike Hollar, Erin Morrill, Katherine Payne, Joel Smith and Carima Wilson-received $50 for their Juror's Merit entries.
Approximately 50 pieces of various media, created by 13 professors of art, compose the annual faculty exhibit.
"The faculty is not only presenting their work as examples of the 'formula' Professor Anderson spoke of for producing quality work, but they are sharing a very personal part of their lives with their students. This insight allows the student to relate to their faculty as fellow artists, and not just teachers of art," Gilliam said.
Robbie Barber, assistant professor of art, submitted the featured piece, a wall sculpture titled "Southern Cross." Barber's piece is one of four miniature homes made of wood, steel, cement and cloth materials. The variety of eclectic materials used in "Southern Cross" reflects the artist's own emotional ties to the piece.
"This work reflects the Southern Baptist flavor that was prevalent during my childhood in North Carolina," Barber said. "I have become fascinated with the strong visual character of this country's vernacular architecture. For me, vintage lap-board houses, mobile homes, tobacco barns and other agrarian-related structures have become regional icons and tell the stories of the people that have either built or inhabited them."
Both galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and before all Baylor Theatre performances. The exhibits are free to the public.
For more information, contact the Baylor art department at (254) 710-1867.