From photography and ceramics, to drawings and paintings, only the best student art work is on display in “Show Us Your Best,” the aptly titled student art show which runs through June 7 at the Glendale College Art Gallery.

According to Gallery Director Roger Dickes, students on campus were given the opportunity to “self jury” their own bodies of work by submitting what they felt was their best artistic endeavour.

“I’m very excited about this show,” said Dickes. “There are incredibly strong works [on display] here.”

Photography and ceramic works are strongly represented, leading the way in submissions.
Enrique Lopez’ ceramic piece titled “Warrior of Cosmic Knowledge,” depicts an Aztec warrior, boldly outlined in black paint and contrasted on a bright red background.
The process in creating the piece, according to Lopez, was tedious, but well worth it.
“It feels good to have people admire your work,” he said.

Ceramics instructor Rob Kibler shares in Lopez’ sentiment and believes that “it is worth for students to see their work on display at the gallery.”

“[When you take the artwork], put in on a pedestal, and then put a spotlight on it…what better feeling than that?,” he added.

Kibler was among one of the many instructors within the art department that encouraged their students to submit works for the art show.

A total of 91 pieces comprise the current exhibition.

At the artists reception, held on May 17, Superintendent/President Audre Levy was at hand to not only view the art, but to purchase some of the artworks in an effort to decorate her office.

“I should be displaying student work so that people can see what we [the campus] have to offer,” she said. “I’m always looking at ways to market the college.”

The pieces that appealed the most to Levy were those that contained words, and that were abstract in nature. She hopes to adorn her office walls with a blend of photography pieces and drawings.

Although space in the gallery is limited, Dickes and the gallery staff made an effort to accommodate all of the pieces that were submitted.

Working odd hours to make the show possible, the gallery staff sorted through the art and placed them in their corresponding spots.

“I have to give props to my student workers,” said Dickes. “They worked really hard to set up the show and they ended up doing a great job.”

Although the current exhibition just opened, Dickes is already thinking ahead to the next student art show, scheduled for the fall semester.

The goal for the next student show is to spawn a collaboration between the Gallery Committee, as well as the individual art departments.

Names of students will be submitted to the gallery and from there, the Gallery Committee will select the “scholarship level” students by allowing them to submit artwork and/or create exclusive pieces for that particular exhibition.

Dickes believes that this format enables the students to face the “prospect” of having their pieces displayed in a more intimate showcase.

“Show Us Your Best” runs through June 7. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information on the Glendale College Art Gallery, visit www.glendale.edu/artgallery