Twenty-five student pieces on display

Attendees of the second annual Creative Arts Festival view Tina Grondin’s “Reconstruction Myths” at the Kent State University Museum Saturday afternoon. DANIEL OWEN | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: DKS Editors

Tina Grondin’s graphite on canvas work was valued at $1,500. If it had sold, she would have pocketed all of it.

No one bought her “Reconstruction Myths,” but it did take the top award at Saturday afternoon’s second annual Creative Arts Festival at the Kent State University Museum in Rockwell Hall.

Although attendance was down from last year’s festival, Hilary Dell, junior fashion design and finance major and lead coordinator of events, said this year’s event was a success.

“Last year we didn’t sell any work, and this year we’ve already sold a few pieces,” she said. “I think we have gained a bit of credibility, and people have been staying longer this year.”

One hundred percent of the profits made from the sold artwork went directly to the student artists who created it.

Attendees ate food as live music carried throughout the museum while people viewed the art.

The festival is entirely student run and organized by members of the Museum Student Association. The association’s main goals are to promote the museum and student art awareness and bring different groups of artists together.

The group accepted art creations from any kind of medium, including textiles, photographs, paintings, screen prints and many more.

“Basically, if you made it, you were open to submit it,” said Amanda Goode, junior paralegal studies major and a contributing planner of the festival. “It’s a great chance for students to hang their work for free.”

Seventeen different graduate and undergraduate students had work selected to be in the show. About 25 pieces were on displayed in all.

The entrees were judged by a panel of graduate students.

Grondin’s “Reconstruction Myths” took home the top prize, the Juror’s Choice Award. Five other artists won Honorable Mention prizes. Winners were awarded gift certificates to All Media Art Supply.

Jean Druesedow, director of the Kent State University Museum, was pleased with the student turnout this year and said this event gives student artists a great opportunity to show their work in a museum setting.

“It also gives people an opportunity to see other areas of the museum,” she said.

The Museum Student Association is already thinking of new ideas for next year’s festival.

“We are starting to get a lot more interest from outside artists and alumni,” Dell said. “Next year, we are planning on having live art going on during the festival. We’re very excited about what’s next to come.”

Contact school of art reporter Daniel Owen at [email protected].