Juror's Statement: 

 

I was impressed by the level of the work submitted across disciplines and in particular, enjoyed seeing incredibly engaging compositional considerations that all of the work had. "Lydia" affected me a great deal and could help but feel like it captured many of our sentiments this past year with its directness of message and symbolic resonance.

 

"Menagerie" and "Birds" have a timelessness about each of them and they exhibit something surreal and imaginary despite the ordinariness of pets/ animals. In fact, much of the work dealt with the personal and domestic as subject matter and I couldn't help but feel the students looking inward, using their surroundings and imagination as fodder for their creative pursuits.

 

While it was difficult to select just these pieces, all of the work in the exhibition transported me to another place where I could experience something unique and personal. It was a real delight to partake in this. -Bruce Erikson

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About Juror:

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Bruce Erikson has a BFA degree in Drawing with a minor in Art History and Classical Guitar Performance from Edinboro University; he also received an MFA degree in Painting from Indiana University. 

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Since his graduation he has taught at several universities including Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL; and Washington University in St. Louis, MO. 

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His art frequently centers on the nude figure, and is stylistically reminiscent of the Classical Tradition. Currently, Erikson is Associate Professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati Ohio, and directs the Drawing and Painting department. Xavier University named him Bishop Fenwick Professor of 2019-2020. 

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Website: https://bruceerikson.com/home.html