NIC holds annual student art gallery

Students observe the art featured in the 2019 Student Art Show at the Corner Gallery. Photo by Robert Perry.

The 2019 annual student art show kicked off with the opening reception, on April 9 at the Corner Gallery in Boswell Hall. North Idaho College students submitted artwork they had completed in recent classes to a juried show. Megan Cherry Atwood, presided as the official judge awarding students for their originality, creativity, and artistic skill.

Best of Show winner Sue Lemons’ piece “Ceremonial Lance of the Glamazon Tribe.” Photo by Robert Perry.

Sue Lemons’ piece entitled “Ceremonial Lance of the Glamazon Tribe” was awarded “Best of Show”.

“It’s my tribe of east Sagle,” Lemon’s said. “I’m a ‘Drag Race’ fan and it is a term from the show; just a shout out to my idol and inspiration, RuPaul Andre Charles. The piece is basically an authentic ceremonial lance of the Plains Indians of North America… in drag.”

Lemons said she was excited to win but acknowledged that there were many different styles and talents on dislplay at the show.

“But, as RuPaul says, ‘Be true to yourself; don’t pay any mind to what everybody else is doing. Do you. You’re a winner, Baby,'” Lemons said.

Pricilla Cooper, an NIC instructor of 20 years, currently teaches drawing but has been a gallery assistant curating and setting up Student Art Shows in the Corner Gallery of Boswell Hall for 17 of those 20 years, and prior to that in the Student Union Building.

“Thanks to Pricilla’s tireless efforts, the Student Art Shows are arranged in a fashion that flow and combine the various works of art in a consistent professional manner,” Sydney Croteau, a celebrated North Idaho College artist said. “She manages to arrange all the artwork, submitted by various student artists in a complimentary fashion, which in my opinion, creates the show.”

Curator Pricilla Cooper welcomes students into the 2019 Student Art Show at the Corner Gallery in Boswell Hall. Photo by Robert Perry.

Crystal Hardt who also participated in the show said she thought the show was well done. Hardt said that, other than high school, this was the first art show/exhibit on this level, where she could sell her work, and that she felt very honored just to participate in it.

“It felt good to receive the honor, but I thought there was a lot better work in the show,” honorable mention-winner Michael Petruccelli said. “I really liked [the show]. It’s the most impressive show that I have seen since I have been here.”

Other students who placed in the show were:

1st Place- Went to Mire Lee for her painting entitled “Joyful Family Moments”.
2nd Place- Went to Sydney Croteau for her painting entitled “Linghun”
3rd Place- Went to Crystal Hardt for her graphite drawing entitled “Eastern Skies”.
Honorable Mentions were given to Michael Petruccelli, Tanner Criswell, and Kayla Burton for their pieces.