KINGSTON, R.I. – April 24 – Every year, the Department of Art and Art History hosts the Juried Student Exhibition that offers students the opportunity to experience the process of submitting their work and having it evaluated professionally. Each year, an external juror is invited to curate the exhibition, bringing a professional perspective to the selection process. Students are invited to submit up to five works in any medium. Selected pieces are presented in a professionally installed exhibition that reflects the program’s high standards. The exhibition culminates in a public reception, where departmental scholarships and awards are announced to recognize outstanding student achievement.
Coordinated by Gallery Director Steven Pennell, the exhibit is hosted on the third and fourth floors of Lippitt Hall, with plans to host the first juried show in the new Fine Arts Center next year. Each entry is eligible for two awards: the Dean’s Choice Award and the Art History Excellence Award, which were given out on April 22.
The exhibit features more than fifty works of art in all media by more than thirty URI students taking classes in the Department of Art and Art History, chosen by Juror Alyssa Rehs, URI Alum, Vice President and Director of the Rehs Contemporary Gallery, Inc., New York, NY. Rehs has a demonstrated track record in the fine art industry. She is skilled in Art Consulting, Contemporary Art, Auctions, Art Education, and Museums. Rehs has a strong professional background, with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Art History, Criticism, and Conservation from the University of Rhode Island.
The Dean’s Choice Awards went to Tucker Cameron’s “Cycle” and “Road to Hana” (acrylic on canvas), Elea Stinnette’s “Tiles” (gelatin silver print collage), and Megan Relaigh’s “Self Help” (broken ceramic, reed). The Art and Art History Award went to Alex Perlorca and Alexis Dolegowski.
Scholarships were also awarded to the following:
- Bart Parker Endowed Scholarship in Photography Logan Firestone and Tyler Palmer
- David Ketner Memorial Fund Art Scholarship Kailyn Washington
- Jesse M. Simmons Memorial Scholarship in Art (Painting) Sharday Johnson
- Richard Calabro Sculpture Scholarship Kendra Apgar
- UNFI Scholarship Jeannelle Tejeda
- Winifred E. Brownell Fine Arts Scholarship Hailee Patnaud
Over the last few years, the art that students create does not end at the last brush stroke. A key learning process for students is how to present their work in a contemporary art gallery context. Pennell expressed that students are learning not just about presenting their work professionally, but also about technical requirements such as timely delivery, and how their artwork needs to be prepared for hanging, and the specific installation requirements that galleries have. Submissions are also commonly digital in the professional art world, therefore it is extremely important that students learn how to properly photograph their work.
Sharday Johnson ‘26, who received the Jesse M. Simmons Memorial Scholarship in Art, had two pieces of her work displayed: “Estrangement” (oil on canvas), and “Triple Jump” (oil on canvas). Her work explores the concept of alienation through depicting scenes through the lens of someone experiencing alienation. Drawing from her experience as a person from a mixed-race and multi-abled household, she seeks to interpret the criteria that defines who is seen as a person, and why marginalized people often are dehumanized due to not fitting into this strict set of changing rules.
“I’ve gotten to know many amazing artists, professors, and community members through the art department, and it has been great to go out and support others, and be mutually supported in return. It has also been an exciting experience as a multidisciplinary artist, since I have been able to use what I learned through the URI Plant Sciences curricula in my artwork,” said Johnson.
Among the featured artwork are pieces by Kendra Apgar, Connor Armstrong, Mason Bernier, Tucker Cameron, Alyvia Caruso, Rowan Chaves, Chandler Coulombe, Meghan Cullen, Greta Dahl, Sophia DeLorenzo, Arria Doll, Logan Firestone, Andrew Garcia, Madeline Gibson, Emma Givan, Delaney Jenson, Sharday Johnson, Caitlyn Keenan, Sam Kipper, John Lima, Matthew Main, Antonio Mancini, Catherine Mejia, Cassandra Naughton, Isabella Pappani, Hannah Parker, Hailee Patnaude, Megan Raleigh, Gwendolyn Ruffolo, Kelsi Stickels, Ella Stinnette, Cody Szczepanski, and Isabel Tilney.
The gallery is free and open to the public until April 30th.