Bobbit displays the fruits of student creativity
Albion to host Michigan Small College Art Exhibition

February 20, 2004
by Sarah Heddon
Staff Reporter

Lately, working with buttons, beads, photos and textiles has consumed all of Dawn Otwell’s spare time.

Otwell, East Tawas senior, art major and president of Albion College’s Art Club, is attempting to finish her three- dimensional fabric projects in time to enter them into the Michigan Small College Art Exhibition, hosted this year by Albion College.

Over 300 entries arrived from Albion, Adrian, Alma, Hillsdale, Olivet and Spring Arbor this past week. Around 80 pieces were chosen to appear in the exhibition, and compete for $1,500 in prize money.

As Otwell and other student artists prepare for the exhibition, which will be on display in Bobbitt Visual Arts Center from Feb. 21 through March 27, many students, faculty and community members can anticipate a diverse display in various artistic mediums.

First-year students through seniors are eligible to enter the exhibition, but in the past, mostly juniors and seniors have submitted work.

Sarah Robinson, Indianapolis, Ind., first-year, who is majoring in art with an art history minor, agrees and anticipates entering the exhibition as an upper classman.

"I heard about the exhibition through the Art Club, but it’s a little intimidating coming in as a freshman," Robinson said.

Students entering the exhibition submit up to three works of art, which include paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, video works and other types of two- and three-dimensional pieces. "Some works [are] more conceptual, some more representational," said Lynne Chytilo, professor and chair of art and art history at Albion College, and event facilitator.

Chytilo, who began coordinating the exhibition last fall, said the two-tier jury process is an opportunity for students to receive constructive criticism.

Norbert J. Freese, artist and preparatory for the Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University and this year’s juror, determined which submissions were accepted into the display and will decide which works will be awarded prize money.

"With your first exhibition, you might be a little disappointed [if your work isn’t accepted] but it’s going to happen all the time," Otwell said. "It really depends on what the juror is looking for. Sometimes the juror favors conservative pieces. Albion tends to be the most liberal school participating, so sometimes a piece might be considered too out there."

Chytilo explained the educational relevance of the jury process.

"It provides an extremely beneficial experience for students at this level because it is really the way the art world works. Just because your work doesn’t get selected doesn’t mean that it is not worthy. In art, taste is individual."

Otwell is excited to see the range of artwork entered by her competitors. She urges fellow students and faculty to attend.

"I think most people will be amazed at what students at the college level are creating," Otwell said. "The exhibition can really expand and open you up to what art is and what it can be."

As president of Albion’s Art Club, Otwell said she hopes other students can find fulfillment in expressing themselves artistically. Art Club facilitates activities such as printmaking and sculpture and is open to non-art majors.< "At meetings, we have a lot of fun and it’s so neat to see the differences in creations, for example, between a biology major and an art student," Otwell said.

Otwell said she hopes the exhibition will get the entire campus involved in artistic expression.

"It is extremely gratifying to see my students’ work displayed," Chytilo said, expressing matched enthusiasm for the event. "I wish all the Albion students good luck getting work in the show."

The show opens in Bobbitt Visual Arts Center on Feb. 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Students can view the exhibition through Mar. 27, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.