MCC fine arts students applauded for winning works
Meridian Community College student Brian Lummas won the top MCC Fine Arts Student Competition award for his three-panel work, "Career Choices."
Lummas was one of 14 students whose works earned an award in this show that will be
exhibited now through May 5 in the Casteel Gallery located in the Davidson Fine Arts
Center in Ivy-Scaggs Hall.
For his efforts, Lummas received the John Michael Rushing Best of Show Award, and as a purchase award, he garnered a $200 honorarium. The work has become a part of the College's permanent art collection.
Award-winning mixed media Lauderdale artist Denise Dengler served as the juror for this year's event.
"Our students are so talented and wonderful," said Terrell Nicholson-Taylor, MCC art instructor and organizer of the competition and exhibition. One of those students, Cora Manning, 19, of Philadelphia, was surprised when her name was called as the top winner of the graphic design category with a work that captured the likeness of her grandparents. “I thought I would place or get an honorable mention, but I didn’t think first place,” she said.
Additional winners in the show included:
Design: Aurora Smith, "Form Studies," first; Angel Plott, "Silver Stare," second; Janiyaah Phillips, "Face Lift," third; and Phillips, "Sample Page," honorable mention.
Printmaking: Alexander Coleman, "Alex," first; Devlin Ford, "Smile in the Dark," second; and Syi Burrage, "I Question It!,” third.
Graphic design: Cora Rose Manning, "The Grandparents," first; Ian Fisher, “Aphantasia," second; Viskayya Muhammad, “My Dear Siyanna," third, and Jackson Ward, "Sugar Show" and Gabriel Hutchinson, “Elephant in the City,” honorable mentions.
Drawing: Plott, "Blue Butterfly," first; Marquez Kennedy, "Self Portrait Study," second; Hunter White, "Self Portrait Study," third, and Erian Moody, Ruler of the Sun,” honorable mention.
Winners received cash awards from the MCC Foundation; first-place winners garnered $100; second place, $75; third place, $50; and fourth place, $25.
The show is located in the Miller Art Gallery on the MCC campus, and admission to the gallery is free. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment on Friday.
For more information about the Casteel Art Gallery, visit meridiancc.edu/artgallery.