Judge: 'The works were very strong and engaging'
William McDonald alluded to the Kentucky Derby in describing the quality and quantity of artwork submitted in this year’s McDonald Biennial Exhibition: “It was like a race of thoroughbreds that was neck-and-neck to the finish.”
Indeed, the top six places — each of whom earned cash awards — were within one point of one another after judging by a jury that included curators from a New York City art gallery and a Cincinnati’s museum.
(ABOVE) Best of Show winner Kentrell Lodge displays his crystal trophy and $1,000 check with, from the left, Hal Shunk, professor of art, and exhibition benefactors Janet and William McDonald.
Freshman Kentrell Lodge took home the crystal trophy and $1,000 check for Best of Show while the three $250 runners-up award winners included juniors Tiffany Barr and Amari Bryant and senior Kelsey Kish. Linden Ayoki and Anthony Bell earned $150 honorable mention recognition.
Fifteen students submitted work in the painting and printmaking competition, which alumni Janet and William McDonald founded in 2011 as a means for motivating WC students to look at potential careers as working artists. The couple’s exposure to art while students at Wilmington in the 1960s sparked a lifelong interest in art, artists and art history.
The McDonalds were especially impressed with the wide-range of academic majors represented by the 15 students in the competition, as they ranged from art, art education and graphic design majors to sport management, biology and, as in Lodge’s case, currently undeclared.
Judge Mikaela Lamarche, curator of ACA Galleries in New York City, was impressed with how much the variety of the artwork and original expressions have developed since she judged the inaugural Biennial in 2011.
“I was particularly taken with the fact that the artists employed a range of media, subjects and styles,” she said. “Overall, the works were very strong and engaging, making the ranking very difficult. In the end, I ranked the work based on power, originality and technique.”
Lynne Ambrosini, chief curator of the Taft Museum of Art, said it was clear the students were “deeply engaged” in their work. She mentioned how some have gifts that could be developed professionally if they possess the required drive and passion.
“Many of us have talent, but not all of us have the inner need to keep on making, expressing, creating,” she said. “Students with talent should consider carefully whether they would like to apply it in private life or in relatively secure areas of the art world such as commercial art — or in the most insecure area of making a living solely through the sale of one’s work.
“All are possible.”
The third judge, WC art professor Hal Shunk, echoed the sentiments regarding the diversity and quality of the works.
“I have watched many of these students succeed and fail in their efforts to produce a final piece,” he said, noting the results of their hard work is evident in the exhibited pieces.
“Sometimes letting go and being creative is a difficult thing for people to do — there is risk involved. These students often took risks to create, show and be judged, he added. “This is truly a good example of the artwork of Wilmington College students and I am proud to be part of this exhibit.”