Kyla Becker

The Broadside

Central Oregon Community College is hosting the annual Student Art Invi­tational Exhibit in the Pinckney Gallery in Pence Hall. The exhibit will be up for viewing for a month, beginning May 4th and ending June 4th.

Beginning in the fall term, COCC art instructors start thinking about which students they will invite by watching the progression of their work.

“We’re planning for it the moment we get here,” says Pinckney Gallery Director Cheri Helfenstein.

“The artwork for the 2010 Student Art Invitational Exhibit (is) chosen by the COCC Fine Art Instructors from student work completed during the 2009-2010 academic year during art classes, and from the following mediums: Painting, Watercolor, Drawing, Photography, De­sign, Ceramics, Sculpture, Metalworks and Jewelry,” Helfenstein wrote in an email to The Broadside.

The students selected to show in the Student Art Invitational Exhibit have no knowledge until spring of who has been chosen. This year art students have the privilege of showing their work in the Pinckney Gallery with the possibility of winning a monetary prize, and an oppor­tunity to sell their work.

The awards were chosen and then presented to the winners at the opening reception that was held on May 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Pinckney Gallery. Awards were categorized by medium with the addition of a President’s ‘Best of Show’ Award and a Faculty Forum Purchase Award.

Dr. James Middleton, COCC presi­dent, helped in the selection of the Presi­dent’s Award while Leslie Minor, Faculty Forum President, presented the Faculty Forum Purchase Award. Judy Hoiness, artist and retired COCC art instructor, selected the winners of the medium awards with current art instructors from each medium presenting.

Information regarding which pieces of artwork are for sale has been hung in the gallery for those interested. Prices range depending on the medium and the size of the piece; students have chosen the prices they want to sell their pieces for.

As the Pinckney Gallery is not a sales gallery, calls regarding a purchase are directed to Helfenstein who will then contact the student. Transactions take place between the student and the buy­er outside of the college.

A yearly COCC tradition, the exhibit has been a fixture of the Fine Arts and Communication Department since be­fore faculty members can remember.

“It’s a rite of spring passage,” said COCC Art Instructor Bill Hoppe.

You may contact Kyla Becker at [email protected]