The 52nd Annual Juried Art Show
APRIL 2020
Despite the Juried Art Show being cancelled due to COVID-19, we are determined to do what we do best - celebrate and acknowledge the incredible work that you have made over the last two semesters. The Juried Art Show Coordinators, with the support of the Studio Art Faculty, would like to announce that we will be presenting the 2020 Studio Art Awards virtually this year.
These awards are chosen by faculty and given to students based on the quality of their work and their contribution to the department in the Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 semesters.
JAS 2020 Coordinators
Paige Bromby, Jenna Kondo, Tristan Parfect
Emma developed a multimedia installation for the Juried Art Show, which integrated a series of CMYK prints, a digital lightbox, screen printed projection films, and a video. Emma had already installed her installation before the event was cancelled and presented this piece to her peers in the Printmaking and Photo/Digital Technologies course. This work continues her in-depth investigation into image production technologies, glitch, file corruption, and the juxtaposition of analogue and digital technologies.
This term Abbey developed a large-scale project wherein she redesigned nine cards of the Tarot Deck based on autobiographical narratives. She learned new skills and collaborated with Monika Hauck to produce graphic laser engraved plates, which she used to print a 7 ft tall relief. Abby took on a number of technical challenges (complex registration among them!) and the work turned out wonderfully.
Emily has demonstrated extraordinary ambition and fierce intelligence combined with a solid and steadfast work ethic throughout all four levels of the painting curriculum. She also brings a hilariously sly sense of humour. Her work is beautiful, funny and sly - a play on historical painting through a lens happily distorted by both mid-century abstraction and digital technology.
Salma's show in Zavitz gallery this year was evidence of the thoughtful experimentation and spirit of open investigation as well as political smarts that Salma brings to her work. Her work explores both social and political issues as well as the material qualities and expression possible in both drawing and painting. Her mark-making, which one faculty referred to as 'stunning and Cy-Twombley-esqe' is a breakthrough for her work in 'how she has effectively attached the social and political issues that have been important to her without becoming overbearing and didactic'.
These students were chosen for the drawing awards for the astonishing work they produced in Drawing IV. The work was ambitious, displaying an admirable formal finesse, conceptually rigorous and visually arresting. And, to top it off, contained a subtle and effective thread of humour that grounded the work in the everyday providing an important counterpoint to some of the more elevated ambitions in the work.
These students were chosen for the drawing awards for the astonishing work they produced in Drawing IV. The work was ambitious, displaying an admirable formal finesse, conceptually rigorous and visually arresting. And, to top it off, contained a subtle and effective thread of humour that grounded the work in the everyday providing an important counterpoint to some of the more elevated ambitions in the work.
Carolina Benitez was such a positive force - ambitious and perfectionistic in their art-making, and generous with their skills and knowledge to others. Carolina is a class leader and a wonderful artist, who took the ideas and ethics of environmental art making at play in Outdoor School and lived them - in their studio work, their editing and designing of our class publication, their volunteering at the farm, and in their ongoing research and making. Thank you, Carolina, and congratulations on your tremendous work, in Experimental Studio, and in the world!
Generous and dedicated, Melanie Leader contributed to all aspects of senior sculpture and demonstrated the important values of tenacity, perseverance and hard work necessary to successful problem solving and resolved projects.
Nicole Scott demonstrated a strong research and work ethic in senior sculpture, and combined with technical skill and attention to detail, Nicole made exceptional projects.
Mary (Megan) Sin Fai Lan impressed me over the course of two semesters with her thoughtful work that explored the politics of cultural identity. In her projects she utilized a wide range of original approaches to the medium while addressing personally and politically resonant subjects. Her latest project - a photograph of a pair of Levi Jeans that were manufactured in a textile factory in China, hand-embroidered with images of factory workers - was layered in meaning.
Jennifer Zhao demonstrated unwavering commitment to project development over the last two semesters. She meticulously and repeatedly photographed her apartment, which culminated in a project where she used a black light to forensically reveal, and photograph, stains and other residue of daily life that the human eye cannot see. While she was producing this innovative body of work, cities across the world were being disinfected, adding poignancy and urgency to her project.
These students were chosen for the Digital Media awards for the remarkable work they did and the stellar progress they made in the course despite the absence of any previous experience using the tools. The work they produced was consistently smart, accomplished and a finely tuned solution to the assignment criteria. In addition to their class work, they were generous with their time helping other classmates, demonstrating an exemplary community spirit.
Digital Media Award -
Anastatia Flynn
These students were chosen for the Digital Media awards for the remarkable work they did and the stellar progress they made in the course despite the absence of any previous experience using the tools. The work they produced was consistently smart, accomplished and a finely tuned solution to the assignment criteria. In addition to their class work, they were generous with their time helping other classmates, demonstrating an exemplary community spirit.
Technician Award - Jennifer Zhao
The Technicians Award is in recognition of exemplary studio practice by a student (or students) in the areas of Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Extended Practices and Digital Media. Most importantly, it values the generosity of spirit that the recipients have demonstrated towards their fellow students and staff working in the Technical Studios. This year, the Technicians are pleased to present the award to Kyle Livingstone and Jennifer Zhao.
Technician Award - Kyle Livingstone
The Technicians Award is in recognition of exemplary studio practice by a student (or students) in the areas of Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Extended Practices and Digital Media. Most importantly, it values the generosity of spirit that the recipients have demonstrated towards their fellow students and staff working in the Technical Studios. This year, the Technicians are pleased to present the award to Kyle Livingstone and Jennifer Zhao.
This year’s Specialized Studio cohort was truly exceptional in their commitment to their work, in the diversity of their interests, and in the cohesive community spirit that they developed among themselves. On the basis of the quality and quantity of their individual production, this was one of the most ambitious and successful groups in recent memory, and choosing one student from this class to receive an award is a difficult task.
There was however, one student whose work stood out for its maturity, its sophistication, and its consistent ability to challenge both perceptually and conceptually. For the seriousness and subtlety in her material experiments, for the persistent refinement of her many discoveries, and for the obvious sense of pleasure she received from rolling up her sleeves and getting to work — the Specialized Studio award goes to Nikki Rejman. Congratulations to Nikki and to everyone.
Throughout her time in the program, Paige Bromby has been an invaluable member of the SOFAM community. Paige’s drive and curiosity were an inspiration to her fellow students and to faculty, both in and out of the classroom. The creative work she undertook both on and off campus was ambitious and visually exquisite. Her independent work in Specialized Studio displayed extraordinary focus, industry and judgement.
Paige’s natural skills as a team player and a leader were never more in evidence than in these last few weeks of a chaotic semester, when she helped to ensure that the Juried Art Show could be a “virtual” success—tirelessly working with her team so that deserving students will receive the recognition they have worked so hard to achieve.
And if all that wasn’t enough, Paige was always a total pleasure to work with. Congratulations Paige, we will miss you!
Emma Ongman is an exceptional student who excels in her studies across multiple studio disciplines, and who is also involved in all aspects of student life. She took on the undergraduate Instagram account this year, actively sharing online exhibition opportunities with others and managing the digital residencies where Studio Art students share their work. Her willingness to enthusiastically share information and expertise with other students in the photography area was particularly noteworthy. She actively volunteered her time for a wide range of activities, including a very labour-intensive community project with the Guelph Black Heritage Society, where she demonstrated initiative and the highest level of professionalism. This is a student who consistently exceeds expectations, and whose generosity and good humour contribute enormously to all.
Laura Vautour has been a dedicated and integral part of the art community. Working with JAS, faculty, and fellow students she has worked hard to help others while also growing in her own field of art. With her optimism, leadership, artistic capability, and care for others, JAS wants to recognize Laura as a truly phenomenal student in the Studio Art Program.
Volunteer Awards
Christy Cheng, Colleen Alcorn