Ramirez takes top prize in College’s Visual Arts Competition
Meridian Community College student Justin Ramirez won the top award for his Japanese block print-styled work, "Frogs," in the College’s Annual Visual Arts Exhibition and Competition.
Ramirez, a 20-year-old art major from Meridian, was one of 10 students whose works earned an award in this show that will be exhibited through May 7 in the Casteel Gallery in the Davidson Fine Arts Center in Ivy-Scaggs Hall.
Ramirez received the John Michael Rushing Best of Show Award for his efforts, and as a purchase award, he garnered a $200 honorarium. The work has become a part of the College's permanent art collection.
The MCC Foundation underwrites the cash awards; first-place winners receive $100; second place, $75; third place, $50; and honorable mention, $25.
Noting that the work started as a class assignment using magazines, Ramirez said the piece was originally a collage made from many magazine pages. "I glued everything together on one page, then drew from it and tried to replicate the image," Ramirez explained. "I used rubber cement on the paper, then pulled it off to create the white streaks where the rubber had been.
“I don’t think of myself as a painter but more as a digital artist,” Ramirez said. His goal is to become a graphic designer.
Meridian-based award-winning artist Jimmy Smith served as the juror for this year's event and was impressed with the works submitted for the competition, including the artists’ creativity, use of materials, and presentation. Smith recently worked with some of the artists during an oil and pastel workshop offered on campus.
Additional winners in the show included:
Graphic Design: Zane Cole, "Star Player," first; Justin Scott, "Weeping Heartache," second; Colin Goodin, "Self Portrait," third; and Stephon Overstreet, “R.I.P.: 3-headed goats," honorable mention.
Drawing: Allie Wyman, "Far-off Stare-down," first; A’Darrius Hanible, "Crush on Atmosphere," second; Kendrill Wallace, "Dragon Fly," third; and Stephon Overstreet, "Wild Thing," honorable mention.
Design: Ava Hayes, "Self Portrait," first; Justin Ramirez, "Queen Bee," second; Joslyn Logan, "Baggy Style," third; and Zane Cole, "The Flower Keeper," honorable mention.
3-D Design: Kendril Wallace, "Wings," first; Zane Cole, "Bonsai Tree," second; Ava Hayes, "Surfing Balloon Dog," third; and Joselyn Logan, "Lunar Solar," honorable mention.
The show is located in the Casteel 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/casteelgallery.