MSU Students Take Art Awards

STARKVILLE, Miss.–The “best” entry and seven other top award-winning works by Mississippi State art majors are on display through March 13 at The Arts Center of Mississippi in Jackson.

Now in its 65th year, the Mississippi Collegiate Arts exhibit is part of statewide juried competition involving submissions by student artists enrolled in the various four-year colleges and universities. The annual event is designed to showcase the high quality of visual arts education taking place in Mississippi higher education.

This year’s contest drew more than 700 submissions from nearly a dozen institutions. Of that number, 54 entries by MSU art majors were among nearly 140 judged worthy of inclusion in the arts center exhibit.

Best in Show honors went to senior Thomas M. McBroom of Starkville for an oil painting titled “Pig 3.” An art major concentrating in fine art/painting, he is the son of Allen and Lynn McBroom.

“This year’s dominance in both the number of entries anonymously chosen for inclusion into the Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition and in the recognition of so many of our students’ works of art as the best in category and ultimately, the best in show, supports what we all believe and work for every day,” said Angi Bourgeois, MSU’s interim art department head.

Bringing prestige to “the largest and most diverse undergraduate art program in the state, these awards underscore the passion and dedication of our faculty and students, who push themselves daily to reach the highest achievements at the state level and beyond,” the associate professor added.

Jean Donegan, art department head and ceramics professor at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, was juror for the 2015 MCA competition.

In addition to McBroom’s top honor, the six other MSU art majors receiving Awards of Excellence included (by hometown):

BELAIR, Maryland–Junior Lorianna A. Livingston, for an oil painting titled “Self Portrait.” Concentrating in graphic design, she is the daughter of Samuel Livingston and Tammy Livingston.

BRANDON–Senior art major Kierre Dawkins, for both a watercolor painting titled “Roots” and watermedia piece titled “Entangled Web.” He is the son of Gary Dawkins and Lesia Turnage.

CARNATION, Washington–Senior Eleanor L. “Ellie” Bailey, for a charcoal and pastel piece titled “Wait.” Concentrating in fine art/drawing, she is the daughter of Ronald Bailey and Helen Duffy.

KILN–Senior Cameron A. McMaster, for “Shore Savers.” Concentrating in graphic design, he is the son of Mark and Tracy McMaster.

TUPELO–Michael J. Wilkerson, for a ceramics piece titled “Grid.” A December fine art/ceramics graduate, he is the son of Jack and Martha Wilkerson; and,

WEST POINT–Senior Ronnie B. Robinson, for a photograph titled “Act of Violence.” Concentrating in photography, she is the daughter of Ronny and Donna Robinson.

Professor Brent Funderburk, a former art department head, joined Bourgeois in extending the faculty’s congratulation to this year’s winners. “Eight of the total 12 awards were given to MSU art students — this bespeaks of our continuing preeminence as a strong regional art program,” he said.

He also expressed the department’s appreciation of Mark Wood, owner of Chalet Arts in Starkville, for “providing ‘Chalet Scholarships’ for the framing and presentation needs of students preparing artworks for the collegiate show.”

The Arts Center of Mississippi is located at 201 E. Pascagoula St. Viewing hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m., Sunday.

Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU’s art department offers a bachelor of fine arts degree, with concentrations in graphic design, photography and fine art (ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture).