By Thomas Norton and Kelli Henderson
Students from all TCC campuses can compete to win the district art competition at the Fort Worth Community Art Center this spring but need to start preparing their entries soon.
“Students who have been enrolled in art classes since the spring [2011] semester can apply for the district art competition,” said Devon Nowlin, TCC student art competition program facilitator. Nowlin said students should talk with their art professors now to learn more about the submission process.
Students will submit their best original artwork made from class assignments or outside projects. The works must not have been previously exhibited.
The selection from the district judges takes place from early February until mid-February. Feb. 15 is the entry deadline.
“There will be paintings, drawings, sculptures and graphic designs. Students from every department can enter the competition,” said Karmien Bowman, NE art associate professor and liaison to Nowlin.
Bowman has helped in some form since the competition started three years ago.
Competition rules state that students are allowed to enter three works.
There is an 8-foot width maximum for 2-D entries, and 3-D pieces must not be more than 8 inches in length, width and height, nor exceed 100 pounds.
Diptychs, triptychs or works made of multiple parts have an 8-inch width restriction.
Students must go through two steps before reaching the finals.
The art faculty from each campus will choose the best work from their students.
“At least one person from each campus will be in charge for the pre-jury,” said NW art professor Eduardo Aguilar.
Then, the district juror will choose the best overall. Those pieces will have a chance to compete in the final.
“Works will be evaluated for artistic merit as well as presentation and installation requirements appropriate to the media,” contest rules state.
The students compete against those at the same campus as well as from other campuses. About 350 students competed in last year’s district art competition, Nowlin said. And she is expecting at least 200 this year.
Students shouldn’t hesitate to enter their work because it will help them in the long run seeing their peers’ work, Bowman said.
“It’s great experience for [students]. In the art world, it’s like giving a live performance,” she said.
Contest rules say the students who do the best on their campus will have a photograph of their work digitally submitted to the district juror, Cohn Drennan, owner of the Cohn Drennan Contemporary art gallery in Dallas.
Drennan will narrow the competitors from hundreds to 50 or 60. Those selected works will go to the Fort Worth Community Art Center in the Fort Worth’s cultural district for exhibit.
By the end of February, students will know if the district chose their work for the exhibition.
From March 3-29, the selected students picked from the exhibition will have their chance to win awards and prizes.
Last year’s Best in Show received $1,000. For the past two years of the district art competition, prizes and awards have included cash and scholarship tuition for the second- and third-place winners.
Bowman said the group has raised more than $2,000 this year for rewards.
“There are so many great artists all across the district competing for the awards and prizes, which I think makes it tough and exciting,” Nowlin said. “It’s going to be a great competition.”
