Winners announced in Wesleyan art exhibition

February 11, 2019 | 3:00 am

Updated February 11, 2019 | 8:04 am

Best in Show: Zoe Dean, title: “Macabre Skull, Crow, & Flowers” - DCHS | Photo submitted

The annual Theophilia Oexmann Juried Exhibition, sponsored by the Theophilia Endowment donated from the late Dr. Richard Oxemann for local high schools, is hanging through Feb. 15 at the Ralph Center of Fine Arts Gallery at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Free to the public Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., student artwork from Apollo High School, Daviess County High School, Heritage High School, Owensboro Catholic High School and Kentucky Wesleyan College are featured in the exhibit.

Heather Logsdon, Associate Professor of Art & Design at Kentucky, has curated the juried exhibit from 2010 to present with the help of senior seminar under Mr. John Schartung. She said the Theophilia Oexmann Endowment was setup before she began teaching for Kentucky Wesleyan College, but the late Dr. Richard Oexmann met with her during her first semester of teaching.

“[He] was so impressed with the turnout of the surrounding high schools and the college students, that he graciously increased the endowment in 2010,” Logsdon said.

There are two divisions in the exhibition and Kentucky Wesleyan College senior seminar students gain experience by selecting the high school works that will be accepted or denied, make the tags for each piece, arrange and hang the exhibit.

“I am overjoyed that we have invested art teachers like Mr. Norris (Daviess County), Mrs. Sparks (Apollo), and (my former Art Ed/Graphic major) Mrs. Sprowl (Heritage Park),” Logsdon said. “Their dedication to their art students grows their passion. They put a lot of hard work and time into prepping the pieces to submit to the show and are just as excited to see their art students win.”

The high school division had 102 pieces submitted and the college division had 50.

“This year, Professor Joey Connelly [Kentucky Wesleyan College English Professor and published author] judged the show,” Logsdon said. “The winners are announced and receive cash prizes totaling $1,000.”

Connelly said there was so much talent and beautiful pieces that it was hard to make a decision when everyone was a deserving winner.

“The visual artistic talent in our community is strong and needs more opportunities to be experienced for our young artists,” Connelly said. “The high school teachers do an excellent job with their students and I am proud of the hard work the Wesleyan students put into the Ralph Gallery of Fine Arts. I was honored to be selected as a judge for the third time by Professor Logsdon.”

High School division Honorable Mentions:
Lee Anne Gilley, Title: Boy on Woodgrain, Ink Drawing, Daviess County High
Zoe Dean, Title: Skull, Lino Cut Relief Print, Daviess County High
Mathew Marks, Title: Childs Play, Apollo, High School
Kodashi Neveraz, Title: Trapped, Painting, Apollo High School
Danielle Holmes, Title: Tribal Mask, Stoneware, Daviess County High
Kentucky Wesleyan College division winners:
Troy Barnett, Best of Show – “Nature”
Nicolle Guerrero, 1st Place – “Beatle Jooice”
Christopher McCarthy, 2nd Place – Atmosphere
Troy Barnett, 3rd Place – Copper Plate
Honorable Mentions: Devante McFarland, Payton Ford, Emily Jenkins

February 11, 2019 | 3:00 am

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