ArtFest 2022

On display March 2 – April 16, 2022 

ArtFest is the Memorial Student Center Visual Arts Committee’s annual art competition and exhibition. All Texas A&M students, regardless of major, are invited to submit their artwork. The students who submit artwork to ArtFest come from any major, any experience level, and any age. The top three pieces receive a cash prize: first place $100, second place $75, third place $50, and film overall $100. ArtFest 2022 Winners are:

First Place Winner: Luke Kostouryz, Freshman Visualization major from Keller, TX

Second Place Winner: Crystal Scott, Sophomore Mechanical Engineering major from The Woodlands, TX

Third Place Winner: Chloe Boerner, Freshman Engineering major from San Antonio, TX

Popular Vote Winner (tie): Diego Galvez Aranda, Graduate in Electrical Engineering from Peru

Popular Vote Winner (tie): Sydney Lemmon, Freshman Visualization major from Fort Collins, CO

You can view the virtual exhibit at tx.ag/ArtFest2022 or click the icon below

Primal Forces: Earth

Capturing Earth’s Beauty

On display April 27 – June 25, 2022 

The Memorial Student Center Visual Arts Committee is proud to present Primal Forces: Earth. The artists in Primal Forces: Earth have captured the singular beauty and power of the natural world, but also the vulnerability and fragility of planet earth. Each composition has its own visual rhythm that invites the viewer to explore the whole and delight in the details. Look closely, and you will not be disappointed.

Each artist has carefully painted a delicate view of earth’s beauty using fabrics like felt, cotton, silk and natural materials. One playful example is how artist Janet Windsor, from Tucson, AZ, created layers of rock and stones from cotton and silk in her piece, Crumbling. A more subtle and restrained, example of earth’s power to destroy is seen in Earth to Earth by Maggie Vanderweit from Fergus, Ontario, Canada, who used moth eaten fabric as the central focus of her piece.

Some artists chose to highlight the human impact, and the human costs, of using natural resources. Like Lynn Woll, an Austin, TX based artist, whose piece Oozing Heat seems to pulsate with the heat of the sun and warns against the threat of climate change. Or, Grown Too Soon: The Boys of the Mines by Patty Kennedy-Zafred from Murrysville, PA, who used silkscreen and fabric transfer techniques to show the faces of child workers in the mining industry during the 20th century.

Primal Forces: Earth is created by the Studio Art Quilts Associates, Inc. and was jurored by Sue Cavanagh.

Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt, “a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure.” Founded in 1989, SAQA now has almost 4,000 members worldwide: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators, and art quilt enthusiasts.

Bryan-College Station Community Showcase

On display July 5 – August 13, 2022

Every community has memories to share. The Bryan – College Station Community Showcase explores those moments through the work of more than 30 local artists. When brought together, these individual stories tell a larger narrative indicative of a united experience.

With pieces inspired by nature, childhood memories, grief, friendship, and even pop culture references, the emotional range of this exhibit is sure to capture the hearts of many. Not only diverse in topic, the artwork on display includes an array of styles and mediums. Visitors will enjoy oil, acrylic, watercolor, and digital paintings, as well as pencil and pastel drawings, photographs, and more. This collection in all its different forms speaks to the uniqueness of the stories being told, which converge to create the beautiful puzzle of our community. 

Many of the featured artworks are for sale, which makes this exhibition a great place to encounter a new favorite local artist. With more than 30 artists to discover, you are certain to find something that resonates with you.

Juvenile-In-Justice

On display August 17 – October 7, 2022

The MSC Visual Arts Committee announces the opening of its newest exhibit titled, Juvenile-In-Justice.

Behind the facts and figures of the justice system are real faces, hearts, and stories. Humanizing the statistics of a human experience is crucial to better understanding the needs of American youth.

Juvenile-In-Justice is a compilation of photos selected from the international activism project of the same title. This project aims to tell the stories of young people in the justice system to help “facilitate better outcomes for the 53,000+ children in custody every day.” This exhibit captures the experiences of these children before, during and after incarceration. By illustrating the conditions of disciplinary institutions, photographer Richard Ross reveals what it truly means to be facing the challenges inside the system. 

Each photograph in the Juvenile-In-Justice project demonstrates a unique personal experience whether it be someone’s first encounter with law enforcement or a depiction of isolation. Seeing the reality of an isolated existence serves as a step towards empathy for the juveniles who endure the treatment of the justice system.

Richard Ross is an artist, activist, and photographer based in Santa Barbara, CA. He created Juvenile-In-Justice and strives to give American juveniles the opportunity to be seen. The Juvenile-In-Justice website may be visited at https://www.juvenile-in-justice.com/. Any questions regarding the exhibit may be directed to the email vac@msc.tamu.edu or phone number 979-458-8714.

Virtual Exhibit: http://tx.ag/JuvenileInJustice