The Student Art Show opened with a reception and the announcement of all Best in Show winners on Thursday, March 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Contemporary Art Gallery in East Strawberry Stadium. Refreshments were served to a gallery full of students, parents and faculty, who were all eager to view the show.

The winners for Best in Show in each individual art medium were as follows: Lindsay Barosse in drawing, Skye Jenkins in graphic design, Ryan Green in foundations, Jonathan Kendall in ceramics, Haley Cutrer in ceramics, Jennifer Ashburn in photography, Michael Rabalais in print making, Laura Moore in new media and Kait McKey in painting.

“I didn’t expect to get best in show so I’m really proud of myself and just very thankful to all the professors,” said Laura Moore, a senior who received Best in Show for New Media and Animation, which is also her major. “My piece is about memories. It’s about conveying what memories are like. They’re chaotic and rapid and they kind of go in and out of memory.”

The Overall Best in Show was Amanda Klipsch, a senior theater major who was selected for her piece “Turned,” which appeared to be modeled after tall grass.

“It’s kind of cool,” said senior Amanda Klipsch on being named Overall Best in Show. “Being that I’m a theater major, it’s really cool to win anything in the art show.”

The exhibit was attended by many students, some of whom had pieces in the show and others who came to support friends, artists’ parents and faculty.

“I’m really excited about this exhibition,” said Roy Blackwood, the Interim Director of the Columbia Theatre. “It’s outstanding, and the quality keeps getting better and better each year. This year is a wonderful show. We’ve had a good turnout, and we had a huge number of people come to the reception. That’s really what it’s about. The students get the reinforcement that they deserve.”

Kelley Murphy, a sophomore marketing major, came to see her photographs displayed and visit with other students at the show.

“I was so shocked that mine got picked because I’m not an art student,” said Murphy. “I put this all together in one day, last minute and both of mine got selected.”

Caleb Holloway, a freshman majoring in graphic design, also had some of his work in the show. He enjoyed viewing his fellow students’ pieces as well.

“Actually, I really like the ‘Against the Wall’ typography by Kasey Randall,” said Holloway. “It’s just really simple and well put together, and it’s got great balance and the color choice is really effective.”

Everyone liked the overall exhibit because of the range of fascinating student pieces and their arrangement throughout the gallery.

“It’s beautifully presented, and that credit goes to, obviously, our students. It’s their work. Our teachers, who advised and taught these marvelous students; and of course, we have a curator Mr. Dale Newkirk, who arranged everything so artfully and wonderfully,” said Dr. Kenneth Boulton, the Department Head of Fine and Performing Arts. “We’re all just very proud of the work that these students are doing and will do throughout their degree progress.”