Kent State art students will present their best work in the Student Annual 2018; a juried art show starting Thursday where students can win up to $1,000 in awards.

The Student Annual, located at the Center for Visual Arts Gallery, will see a diverse mix of media across pieces from the entire student body of the school.

Students were allowed to enter up to two pieces of their own work to the competition and pay a $5 entry fee. The proceeds from this fee goes straight to the prize money.

Marie Bukowski, the director of the School of Art, said the show should give students more exposure to work in their area of concentration prior to graduation.

“First and foremost it is the truest means of social network with a powerful experience for students,” Bukowski said. “The exhibition becomes a collaborative community where viewers can react, contemplate and question.”

In a broader sense, Bukowski said the goal of the Student Annual is to not only encourage students to exhibit their work in a professional manner but also to promote the awareness of art through a consistent art exhibition with students as the main talent.

“My main hope is for viewers of the exhibition to engage them in a community that stimulates discourse among students, faculty and the public as they explore the range of ideas addressed in contemporary art,” Bukowski said.

The juried portion of the exhibition is set to be completed at the shows reception and award ceremony Thursday from 5 p.m to 7 p.m.

The acting juror for the Student Annual 2018 will be Janice Driesbach, the chief curator at the Akron Art Museum.  

The Student Annual 2018 will be free and open to the public from March 1 to March 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday through Friday.

Jarett Theberge is visual art reporter. Contact him at [email protected].