Students from across campus submitted their work to the 66th Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibition (ASJAE), which opened at 5 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Lowe Center for the Arts. A variety of mediums were presented, with a total of 59 works from 41 artists.
Only a limited number of works are chosen to be part of the exhibition each year through a juried review process conducted prior to the event. For some student artists, the submission process brought uncertainty. Third-year Auryon Havlik said, “I was just worried none of my stuff would be good enough to get in.”
During the exhibition’s opening reception, members of the art department and exhibition directors presented awards recognizing selected works. Many students in attendance viewed the exhibition as an opportunity to challenge their understanding of art.
“I think there’s a big misconception about what art needs to be,” said Liv Sinshack, a student who received the Carol Hutchins Winther Art Award. “I used to believe the pinnacle of art had to be hyper-realistic and technically perfect, and because of that I looked down on styles like medieval art. But just because something doesn’t fit what the art canon says is ‘good’ doesn’t mean it lacks merit.”
Though only student art is displayed, teachers and staff help guide students through the submission and preparation process.
Zachary Stensen, one of the gallery directors, said, “It’s easy to make work that only exists within a classroom. Having it displayed in a public space gives students a different experience and changes how the work is viewed and interpreted.”
Creating work can also serve as a way for students to process personal identity and experiences. Kailey Peterson, a fifth-year student, said their work reflects personal growth and acceptance.
“The piece is about me coming into myself, especially in terms of my sexuality. Over the past four years at UW-La Crosse, I’ve been able to find who I am, even when it hasn’t always felt accepted,” said Peterson.
Peterson received the Ray Scherin Art Award for their work.
All pieces of work are on display at the University Art Gallery, in room 100 of the Lowe Center for the Arts and will remain there until March 8 for public viewing.
