Student artists will have two chances to submit their artwork for public display in two upcoming college exhibitions.
The Beaumont Art League will host the “Lamar Student Show” from Oct. 11 through Dec. 3, and the Stark Museum of Art will host its annual “College Juried Art Exhibition,” Nov. 8 through Dec. 20.
BAL will accept entries Oct. 1-4 in their gallery, located at 2675 Gulf Ave. League members will also be in LU’s art building on Oct. 1 and 2 to accept submissions.
The Stark Museum is currently accepting digital submissions through Oct. 19 starkmuseum.org/college-
juried-art-exhibition.
The Art League exhibit will open with a free reception, 7-9 p.m., Oct. 11.
“It’s a chance for the public to meet each artist and talk about their piece,” gallery manager Matthew Beer said.
Artist and Art Museum of Southeast Texas curator of collections Dario Bucheli will judge the exhibit, and the top three students will be awarded a cash prize.
“First place receives $125, second place is $100, third place is $75 and honorable mentions are awarded certificates,” Beer said.
All student work will be for sale.
“This is also a show for (students) who just learned how to put their artwork in a gallery to also sell it,” Beer said.
The Stark Museum show is open to college students in Jefferson County, Orange County and Calcasieu Parish.
Student artwork must be able to hung on a wall, created while they were in college and cannot exceed 50 by 50 inches. If the art is sculptural, it must fit within a frame and be no more than six inches deep.
“Student’s do not have to be art majors,” Rebecca Johns, Stark director of education, said. “We have a juror who looks over the entries and selects a group of them for the exhibition.”
Once the digital submissions are judged, the selected works will be hung in the Museum.
“We have paintings, drawings, pen and ink, we’ve gotten some graphic design entries,” Johns said. “(Previously) there was a game design person who created some sort of character, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be painted work. It can be whatever. If you’re creative, you can submit your work.”
The juror will look for artists with a high skill level and an artist statement that accompanies the artwork, Johns said.
The best of show will win a $500 gift certificate from Blick Art Materials, and each of the honorable mentions will get a $100 gift certificate.
Regardless of if a student’s artwork is included in the exhibit, feedback from the juror will be given to all entrants, John said.
“They’re going to tell you what they’re thinking and give you suggestions on how the entry could be improved,” Johns said. “That’s one of the ways they’re helping to develop aspiring artists is to help them get some constructive criticism and move forward.”
Entering work in exhibitions like these helps aspiring artist become comfortable for their future in the art world post-graduation, Eric Johnston, LU assistant professor of studio foundations, illustration and graphic design, said.
“It’s pregaming for what’s to come,” he said. “It prepares you to photograph your work, meet collectors that are collecting work, think about presentation, how they frame their work — and it also looks good for not just the student, but also for the department.”
Having strangers look at and critique their work makes students more aware of their work, Johnston said.
“It helps them think about the work itself,” he said. “They might say, ‘Well, I’m happy with this work as it, but now that I know that I have to present it to the general public, I may want to go back in and make some changes and perfect that work’ — and that’s always been good.”
For more information, visit beaumontartleague.us and starkmuseum.org. The Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Ave. in Orange.
