The Spring 2012 Student Art Exhibition

The East Stroudsburg University of PA (ESU) Art Association held an Artists’ Reception on Wednesday March 28th for their Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition in the Madelon Powers Gallery which is located within the campus’ Fine and Performing Arts Building. The Reception was well attended as family, friends, and art lovers filled the space in order to explore the exhibit’s offerings congratulating their creators. There was much cause to express the numerous congratulatory sentiments as the overall consistent quality of the pieces displayed were quite impressive and enhanced the joy of attending the exhibit.

The work consisted of a variety of creative approaches and themes which allowed the viewer to (sometimes simultaneously) move their awareness in many different directions both inward and out. There were pieces which touched the eye through their shear beauty summoning a recollection of a gentle memory that may or may not have occurred while others sheared through familiar thoughts and perceptions with an answer devised to bring into question everything humanity once believed to be its everlasting and eternal truth. In other words, there was something for everyone. You’ll find more photographs taken during the reception in The ESU 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150661494755421.450297.636000420&type=3&l=e882125dc2.

The exhibit was open to students of all majors attending East Stroudsburg University. Among those who presented their work for the exhibition were Erin Raught, Abby Oxford, Amber T. Soto, Rick Orengo, Sam Popple, Drew Lingle, Kelsey Caballero, Heather De Meglio, Elisabeth Brennan, Gina Rodriguez, Tiffani Pyzik, Samantha Peterson, Jill Nobles, Caitlyn Foley, Nara Strete, Kayla Littrell, Trevor Nash, Gina Castrianni, Maria Wyler, Nicholas Sullivan, McKenziey Andrew, Celeste Hylton-James, Kelly Smith, Jeremy Soto, Rebecca Kuntzman, Chris Hodge, and Kylie A Silvestri. All displayed a considerable amount of talent and skill in the creation of their individual piece as experiencing their work in the present creates an anticipation as we wonder what will the tempering years that lie ahead will manifest.

As mentioned, the exhibition was a juried one with scholarships and other displays of appreciation presented to those artists who proved to have talents considered to be even more exceptional than their peers. Several award categories were devised and they are of the following. The Award for Third Place went to Alma Barrantes for her piece titled, “Jared Leto,” The Award for Second Place went to Bethany Wert for her piece titled, “Morning Sun,” and the Award for First Place went to Charlotte Hiriart for her piece titled, “Occupy Love” while the award for the best in three dimensional work went to Benjamin Koch for his piece titled, “Distorted Equanimity.” Those included in the Honorable Mentioned Category were Dominick Frabizio for his work titled, “Handmade Knife,” Chad Jacobson for his work titled, “Game Over,” Melody Rivera for her work titled, “Lessons in Reverie,” Amber Trunfio for her work titled, “The Street,” and Lauriel Gingrich for her work titled, “Hidden.” The jurors for the exhibit were Nancy Bohm and Paul Adam Smeltz (yep, that’s me).

When I received a facebook message asking me to serve as a juror for the exhibition, I experienced simultaneous sensations of shock, appreciation, and humility. It was an honored to be considered and I immediately began hoping I was (and I realize this sounds very archaically chivalric) worthy of the task. I knew it would be challenging as I easily recalled the statements of jurors I met during previous ESU exhibitions relating how difficult it was to differentiate between the work to determine which will receive awards and which won’t.

Upon entering the Gallery to begin the selection process, I was soon greeted by my fellow juror, Nancy Bohm. We have known each other for several years and were both enamored by the fact we were born during the same month and date being only separated by a decade. As this would make us Geminians, I mused there were actually four people serving as jurors and not the two the ESU Art Association had asked for. However, this musing was quickly placed aside as we began looking over the body of work.

Although a cooperative atmosphere surrounded us, we began to differ on several of the offerings. However, it soon became apparent this varied approach to our task created the framework in which the pieces we would later agree upon would prove to be the best of the best and honor the awards their creators received. This is not to suggest our selections were perfect and not subject to valid dispute, but our contrasting approaches to the endeavor resulted in decisions which honestly reflected a love we had in common for the arts and embodied the sum of our experiences and understanding of what the essence of truly remarkable art is. In other word, I think we did ok as jurors.

The ESU Art Association is collegiate club designed to create an opportunity for students to explore the myriad aspects of the visual arts with their peers. As with all such clubs, this is sometimes done with great degree of diligence while other times the approach contains the appropriate amount of silliness found when friends get together. In either case, the ESU Art Association provides students with a love for the arts to share the heart of one another. It’s president is Jessica Van Orden, it’s Vice President is Brittany Anderson, and it’s Treasurer is Matthew Copeland. Prof. David Mazure serves as their faculty advisor. You can learn more about the ESU Art Association from their facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/2208607072.

The ESU Art Association Student Juried Art Exhibit  continues at Madelon Powers Gallery which is located in The Fine and Performing Arts Building on the ESU Campus until April 13th. Funding was provided in part by The Pocono Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Future exhibitions presented by The East Stroudsburg University of PA Art Department will include The Senior Seminar and Portfolio in Art Student Exhibition April 19th - May 8th. Please contact The East Stroudsburg University Art Department at 570-422-3695 for more information.