AU’s annual juried student art exhibition debuts March 2 with opening reception

Published on Feb. 24, 2023

Art + Design

ASHLAND, Ohio – AU’s annual Juried Student Art + Design Exhibition opens on Thursday, March 2, with a reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Coburn Gallery, located in the Center for the Arts (331 College Ave.). Gallery admission is free and open to the public.

This exhibition, which runs from March 2-24, represents a culmination of student work from university art classes during the academic year. It is an opportunity for art students to take their best artwork from the year, learn how to professionally present it for display and then receive feedback from an outside art professional.

More than $1,000 in awards will be distributed to student artists, including for Best in Show, Honorable Mentions, Bernini Award, Dean’s Award, Wink Alumni Award, Saville Award, AU Permanent Collection Award and the People’s Choice Award. The awards will be announced during the opening reception, with the exception of the People’s Choice Award that will be posted on the Coburn Gallery’s Facebook page on March 24.

Generous donations from Wendy and Scott Schaller, Michael Bird and Kaylin Henry, the AU Permanent Art Collection and other private donors have allowed AU to offer these awards.

The outside juror for the exhibition is Emily Bartolone, a contemporary painter from Canton, Ohio. She is the curator of the Malone Art Gallery at Malone University, and her work has been seen in such publications as Art Hole and Okay Cool magazines. Her art has been featured at a number of exhibitions throughout the country, including Project Gallery V in New York City, the Oceanside Museum of Art in San Diego, the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center and the St. Louis Artists’ Guild among others. Bartolone obtained a bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of Dayton, as well as a master’s in fine arts from Kent State University.

“The exhibition is an excellent opportunity to support the arts by purchasing a student artwork, whether you are just starting to collect art or adding to a collection,” said Cynthia Petry, director of the Coburn Gallery.

The Coburn Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and noon-4 p.m. on weekends. For more information about the exhibition, call 419-289-5652 or visit the gallery’s Facebook page.