The 2023 Student Art Exhibition reception and Awards celebration was held May 4. The exhibition contained 57 works from 36 Delta College students.
The 24th annual Student Art Exhibition was unfortunately not held in the L.H. Horton Art Gallery, as renovations of the gallery due to damage from previous flooding are still underway. Gallery goers will however have an opportunity to see the student artworks in person when the pieces are put on display in the Fall 2023 semester.
This year artworks were chosen by juror and sculpture professor at San Francisco State Michael Arcega.
The event began with food and refreshments outside before moving to the Tony Fitch Forum, formerly the North Forum.
L.H. Horton Gallery Coordinator Jan Marlese first read a land acknowledgment, followed by a slideshow of all of the student art selected for the show.
After the slide show awards were given to students in different categories. The awards included the Frank W Clancy Memorial Foundation award, the Horton Gallery Foundation award, the student art club award, and five merit awards. Six portfolio awards one for each in ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, graphic arts and photography. President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson and Vice president of Instruction and Planning Charles “Kale” Braden.
“Selecting work out of all of the artwork which was the best was extremely hard for me. I mean every single artist has talent, voice, something to say that was amazing, interesting, thought provoking and I just want to congratulate all of the artists,” said Lawrenson.
Highlighting student art and having accessible art on campus is extremely important for Delta’s student population. “The arts run through everything. The thing about the arts is it’s not just about those that want to go off and be artists, but it’s often the way that many students on this campus find their voice. It’s the way that they’re able to share their truth and to share the way that they see the world,” said Braden.
“To me the arts are important on so many levels, first to our humanity, but educationally, the arts can talk about politics, talk about love, talk about beauty. Arts can express anything and everything in any subject. There’s a lot of educational components to art that people don’t really think about and it can integrate into any subject. So, that’s why I think it’s really important,” said Marlese. “Then two, I think also for healing. I think that the arts are very healing, meditative , it’s something that you can always turn to at your darkest times and feel some relief. And I think that’s really important to have something that makes you feel good.”
Delta’s art program provides students like those highlighted in this year’s Student Art Exhibit an ability to see art as a possible future path.
“Don’t worry about what you’re going to do for a job, just do your art anyway,” said Marlese.
“There’s always something that you can do on the side to complement your art. For me it was arts management that complimented my art because I get to be around it all of the time and I’m good at management, so I married those two,” said Marlese. “For my husband, who is an artist, he can’t be behind a desk, he has to do something with his hands, so he did furniture restoration So, there’s always something. There’s teaching too. There’s always something that can complement, but that doesn’t mean you ever have to stop making art.”
The exhibit can be seen as an example of creativity, hope and a glimpse at the future. Art is something that people need and having a place to display that art can be vital.
“It is important. It’s important to you. It’s important to the people around you. Don’t forget that there’s an artist inside of all of us and there’s an opportunity to speak through your art, and art shows its form in many many different ways,” said Braden.
“I would say definitely pursue your passions and when you’re ready let your art be seen because those voices are really needed. I believe art saves lives and makes a difference, and having it out there is just the best way to I think change the world in many respects, in many ways change our communities,” said Lawrenson.