Joyner Library announces winners of Graduate Student Art and Design Exhibition
Joyner Library has announced the winners of its 10th annual Joyner Library Graduate Student Art and Design Exhibition, located in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery on the second floor of Joyner Library. Winners were selected from 43 artworks by 21artists that have been on display since the exhibition’s Oct. 20 opening.
The competition is a collaboration between Joyner Library and the School of Art and Design to showcase some of the best work of the year by School of Art and Design students.
“This year marks a decade since Joyner Library began this wonderful collaboration with the School of Art and Design,” said Jan Lewis, director of Joyner Library. “I am always impressed by the students’ talent and hard work.”
Winning the Friends of Joyner Library Purchase Award — the competition’s marquee award that comes with a $1,000 prize — was Katya Harris for her painting, “Strength.”
“Selecting the Friends of Joyner Library Purchase Award is one of my favorite responsibilities as library director, even though it is difficult to choose just one,” said Lewis. “‘Strength’ will be a worthy addition to the library’s permanent collection, as it is both a timely and timeless representation of the power of women.”
Four additional award winners were:
Joanne Lang, winner of the College of Fine Arts and Communication $500 Dean’s Merit Award for the metal series “The Early Bird Catches the Worm.”
Robin Carter, winner of the School of Art and Design $350 Director’s Award for the ceramic sculpture, Augury.
Holly Roddenbery, winner of the School of Art and Design $250 Award for the metal sculpture, Mourning Yoke.
Brian Culbertson, winner of the Dowdy Student Store $50 Award for the photograph, “Depersonalization 2.”
Juror and ECU alumnus Catherine Coulter Lloyd, an independent curator and ceramic artist in Lugoff, South Carolina was wowed by this year’s entries.
“The gallery was full of well-expressed narratives asking the viewer to read, connect and become more aware,” said Lloyd. “The skillfully crafted narratives pushed the boundaries of traditional medias using strong technical abilities and fearless experimentation,” she continued. “I am impressed by the artists’ dedication to concept without losing the quality of craftsmanship and their abilities to connect visually with their audience.”
Charlotte Fitz Daniels, events and program coordinator at Joyner Library, said one of her favorite aspects of this exhibit is being able to witness the growth of skills and ideas the students gain during the three years they are in the SOAD graduate school program.
“Other than the master of fine arts thesis exhibitions at the Gray Gallery, I am proud to say that Joyner Library is the only other venue at ECU or in the community where graduate students can showcase their artworks all together,” she said.
The exhibition is on display until Jan. 28 in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery on the second floor of Joyner Library.
–Kelly R. Dilda
University Communications