Annual student show opens today

The work of 60 Southeast Missouri State University art students, totaling 120 pieces, will be on display starting this afternoon at the Southeast Missouri Regional Museum as part of the annual Student Juried Assessment Exhibition. The exhibit runs through April 22.

Every student in the university art department submits work to the show. This year 212 students submitted more than 400 entries, said art department chairman Pat Reagan.

Artwork of all styles and media is included in the exhibit, which has prize categories for two-dimensional color/design foundations, three-dimensional foundations, graphic design/illustration, digital art, ceramics, fibers, printmaking, painting, drawing and a new, loosely defined genre that includes performance art, installations and site-specific sculpture.

Awards for best in show, distinguished merit, area merit and purchase awards will also be presented.

Barbara Nwacha, an assistant professor of art at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, was juror of this year's show.

Reagan said this year's exhibit is an especially large show. The department was expecting to display only 30 to 40 works, and receive about 300 entries overall.

Many of the pieces in the exhibition will be for sale. The exhibit begins with an opening reception today at 4 p.m. Awards will be given out at 5 p.m.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182