Each year, The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University hosts a Student Juried Exhibition during which students receive awards, scholarships, and prizes. Due to unplanned circumstances, our exhibition has been moved online where all visitors can engage with the work virtually. While the COVID-19 crisis posed a great challenge to our art community, the staff of the Welch School Gallery rose to the occasion. The gallery hosted a live, online opening during which Director Joseph Peragine announced awards and visitors voted for a People’s Choice.
We would like to give a special thank you to juror, Shannon Morris, Gallery Director and Curator, Mary S. Byrd Gallery, Augusta University who worked with us through the challenges and lended a great prestige to the exhibition. We would also like to thank sponsors of the show—Binders Art Supplies, the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Burnaway, MOCA GA—and all of the generous donors of the school who have made many of these student scholarships possible.
More about the Juror:
Shannon Morris is a visual arts curator and educator. Currently, she serves as Gallery Director of the Mary S. Byrd Gallery of Art, located within the Department of Art and Design at Augusta University. Shannon has a particular interest in artists who explore the eccentricities and the evolving identities of the Southern United States. Her curatorial practice has led her to work with many of the region's most notable artists. Her exhibitions are reviewed by regional, national and international publications such as Burnaway, The Brooklyn Rail, and Juliet Magazine of Italy. Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Her curatorial proposal to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts and The Ellsworth Kelly Foundation for presenting the work of Bojana Ginn received the 2018 Ellsworth Kelly Award. Shannon’s invitation to participate in the European Cultural Centre’s exhibition Personal Structures-Identities extends her to work internationally with the presentation of the exhibition by Cheryl Goldsleger: Vast Scale-Intimate Spaces within the context of the 2019 Venice Biennale.
Juried Student Exhibition Awards Prizes:
Juried Student Exhibition Award by Larry and Gwen Walker in honor of Casandra Wood Walker:
A $500 award for a JSE artist supported by Former Director, Larry Walker
Demetri Burke
Gallery Director’s Choice & Helen Neely Purchase Award:
Mia Matrazzo - “Happening”
Melissa Huang- “Did you take it yet?”
Helen Neely Purchase Award:
Mattie Piechel - “Lumen #7 " from Gas Station series
Photography Faculty Choice:
Tyler Brantley - “Elija Two”
Welch School of Art & Design Director’s Choice:
Soude Dadras - “176”
Juror Selections:
Honorable Mentions:
Autum English - “The Ache of Life, Creation of Clarity”
Ron Evans - “The Green That Surrounds the Red Apple”
Robert Truesdale - “The President”
Kristina Sooy - “Scream Here”
Krew Keth - “Condom Billboard”
RJ Sturgess – “Don’t Lean Back in Your Chair”
JSE Photography Awards:
3rd Place: Stephanie Hawkin – “Monochromatic Books”
2nd Place: Riley McBride, “Elena During Rainfall” & Juror’s Choice: Riley McBride for “Elena During Rainfall”
1st Place: Jah Bailey - “And, given a story to enact in which the world is a foe to be conquered, they will conquer it like a foe, and one day, inevitably, their foe will lie bleeding to death at their feet, as the world is now. ”
Area Specific Awards
Jones Art Education Award:
To provide scholarships to rising seniors or senior level undergraduate, degree-seeking students studying art education. The scholarship is intended to provide financial aid during student teaching and will be awarded during the semester prior to student teaching.
Lillian Boyd
Nancy Goyer Scholarship (DPP):
To provide scholarships for female undergraduate or graduate students at the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design majoring in either drawing or painting. Funds may be used toward tuition, books, room and board.
Bailey Seely
Vera Jernigan Green Memorial Art Award (DPP):
To provide awards to students in the Department of Art. The student must be in good academic standing in his or her junior year with a major concentration in painting, having completed at least one quarter of his or her junior year.
Phu Nguyen
Marianne Johnson Award:
To provide scholarships to female students enrolled in the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design and who are majoring in illustration or painting, or in a major where fabric or wearable objects are applied. Recipients must be U.S. citizens and residents of Georgia, must have attended GSU as freshman, and must be juniors or seniors at the time of application.
Hannah Brooks
Marion Bowen Davis Memorial Scholarship (DPP and Textiles):
To provide scholarships to female students enrolled in the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design and who are majoring in illustration or painting, or in a major where fabric or wearable objects are applied. Recipients must be U.S. citizens and residents of Georgia, must have attended GSU as freshman, and must be juniors or seniors at the time of application.
Mycah Rose Turman
Amanda Whitaker
Thomasine Bradford Award (Art History):
Awarded annually to either a graduate or undergraduate Art History major who has demonstrated commitment and promise in the pursuit of art history.
Daseol Joo
Susan Babush Memorial Scholarship (GD):
Awarded annually to a Graphic Design student of merit chosen by area faculty
Renee Jackson
Drawing and Painting and Printmaking Area Award:
Awarded annually to a DPP student of merit chosen by area faculty
Melissa Huang
All Area Awards
Dean Dryer Award:
Awarded annually to either a graduate or undergraduate student in any area, nominated by area faculty and voted on by all faculty.
Coorain Devin
Andrew West Memorial Scholarship Fund:
Established in memory of Andrew West, an exceptional student in the school of Art & Design who passed away in his final semester at Georgia State is awarded to a student who shows exceptional talent in one or more areas of art and design. Recipients are selected by the entire Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design faculty.
Parker Thornton
Joseph Perrin Award:
Named after former Director, Joseph Perrin, to provide scholarships to students in good standing in the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design.
Kylie Little
Mark Phillips Scholarship:
To provide merit scholarships to talented undergraduate students in the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design.
Alexis Childress
Winnie Chandler Art & Design Fellowship:
To provide fellowships to benefit graduate students in the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design. The funds may be used for tuition, books, room and board.
Diane Hiscox
Hanna Newman
Felicia Castro
Jordan Gum
Edna McCandless Scholarship:
Exceptional rising Juniors that have been accepted into the BFA program, nominated by portfolio and academic area faculty
Last year’s recipients whose scholarships have been renewed:
Emily Vargas (Drawing, Painting, Printmaking)
GRD Jonathan Beavers (Graphic Design)
Sarah Gaunt (Interior Design)
Irene Ruby (Textiles)
Riley McBribe (Photography)
This year’s new recipients: