Featuring sculptures, zines, architectural floor plans and everything in between, Samford’s Annual Juried Art Competition opened was March 16th until April 6th and was hosted in the Samford Art Gallery. The competition was juried by esteemed local artist Celeste Pfau, who picked from pieces submitted by undergraduate art and design students.
Students entered works that were first assigned in their respective classes and were then encouraged by faculty and staff to enter their polished products into the competition. First (Best In Show), second, and third place winners received recognition in the gallery, along with two merit awards–one in studio art, another in architectural design.
A booklet titled “People I Trust to Cut My Hair” put together by sophomore graphic design major Ethan Speights won Best in Show and was a touching collection of black-and-white portraits of himself receiving haircuts with the people closest to him, and excerpts of meaningful dialogue between them.
“There is a special relationship with a man and his barber,” Speights said, “and I allowed my booklet to expand on that. Getting a haircut is more than an errand, it’s about relationships. This project I think reflects my personality, as I was able to incorporate film photography, enjoy getting my hair cut, as well as have genuine deep conversations with people that mean a lot to me.”
A vibrant quilt by sophomore studio arts major Francie Weissend won second place. Titled “A Warm Embrace, it was stitched together with sewing thread and composed of multicolor trash bags, hanging in the back of the gallery. While typically interested in 2D drawing and illustration, Weissend put together the piece in her beginning sculpture class, a course which presented itself as a fun challenge outside of her comfort zone.
“I made ‘A Warm Embrace’ for another exhibition that was about children in the foster care system and the issue of homelessness that they may face,” Weissend said. “The [in-class] prompt was to make something beautiful out of garbage so that it would represent the foster children who had been ‘thrown out’ from their homes.”
In third place came a sculpture titled “Press On” by junior graphic design major Katy Thomas. It featured two black pieces of velvet, draped from the railings at the top of the gallery stairs and draping downward, expanding into two larger-than-life hands adorned with shiny nails.
“I wanted it to be something wearable, so it’s actually a scarf-cape hybrid,” Thomas said. “The middle can wrap around your neck and the arms and hands hang off your shoulders behind you, and they drag as you walk forward. I thought it was an interesting way to depict struggle and pressing on even when feeling like you’re being dragged down. I thought the nails added some whimsy and interest. It helps the whole piece to not be too heavy or dark.”
Staff Writer
