What can students, faculty, friends and family expect from this year’s exhibit?
BY: HIBA OBEED
Art & Life Editor
St. Louis Community College Meramec has hosted a number of galleries throughout the years since its founding of the art department. One such recurring exhibit is known as the Annual Juried Student Exhibit, where students may submit up to three art works they have made for a class in the last school year.
Art Department Secretary Dan Bess shares his experience as someone who has participated in three and overseen two more.
“I think the number one challenge for the exhibit is getting instructors to inform their students early enough in the process so the students feel prepared and ready by around April first to commit their best art work in the show,” Bess said. “I think it’s best when instructors are pumping them up a month before the show, talking to them about framing or showing them how to submit a piece of artwork.”
Anticipating possible issues, Bess said, “That communication chain puts a strain on the print studio and CVT studio because groups of students are approaching them to ask for help all at once, where they could have been prepared sooner.”
However, there are some changes that this year’s exhibit will bring.
“This is the first time that we will be moving the award ceremony from the Humanities East building hallway to the theater,” Bess said.
Department Chair Tim Linder shared more details.
“We’re doing it new this year, we’ve outgrown our space and we’re moving it to the theatre. We were hoping to have a musical performance from the jazz band as well,” Linder said. “I think normally we have 300 or more attendees, family, friends, faculty and everyone there to celebrate the projects and creativity made to represent the past school year.”
On his expectations for submission turnout, Bess expects a familiar number.
“Last year we had around 130 pieces submitted and around 60 accepted. Students really need to be putting in their best possible work. I’m very excited about it,” Bess said.
