Happy Mediums

Applachian State University's 2013 Art Expo is a multi-room exhibition of 50 students' 58 artworks.

Alexis Wright mounted an ink panorama of “Beauty and the Beast” – a sinewy monster clutching the emblems of pop culture, including Facebook, a remote control and Google, writhing toward an oblivious girl.

There are lucid photographs, like once of a scarlet “Deerly Beloved” by Olivia Capizzi and one of a mid-cry long-exposure figure huddled at a tree trunk, entitled “Untitled 2,” by Melissa Ortiz.

Displayed are yawning sculptures, like “Rebirth through Fire” by Emily Smith and a vertical stretch of wood with found objects, entitled “Beauty of Destruction,” by Audrey Boyle.

A cosmic-like sculpture of cast bronze, called “Astriction,” by Gena Murfin and a flora-like sculpture, called “Transposition,” by Maria Perry are also exhibited.

The annual Art Expo is organized by the Catherine J. Smith Gallery (CSG), but this year is located in the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA). Exhibited on the first and second floors of the main building, the expo will be on view through March 16.

During the month of February, the public is invited to vote for the People's Choice Award via a voting box near the gallery entrance.

A public reception will be held March 1, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the TCVA. The awards ceremony, which starts at 5:30 p.m., will honor the artists, award winners and those receiving scholarships. The event is free and open to the public.

Art Expo slowly evolved from a 1970s senior review into today's modern competition and showcase.

Open to any Appalachian State University student and any medium, this year's expo has been in preparation since fall, said Ben Wesemann, acting director of CSG and curator of the show.

During his studies at ASU, Wesemann had works selected for the expo and said that students’ introduction to this gallery gives confidence and is eye candy on a resume.

Unlike past years' prescribed themes of “natural world, social or political” concepts, this year's submissions were entirely open.

For the first time, juror Nancy Sokolove had students submit work online at slideroom.com, instead of inviting 700-plus pieces of art to the university’s art department for evaluation and tallying.

This challenged students to find inventive ways of presenting and photographing their art, a skill Wesemann said they will need when submitting to larger galleries.

Sokolove is the adult programs manager and curatorial team member at the Asheville Art Museum. She selected 58 pieces based on “skill, concept, visual appeal, interest and what she thought best represented the student body,” Wesemann said.

Sokolove will award first-, second- and third-place prizes, determine the Best in Show and announce the People's Choice – all five of which will receive monetary rewards from the art department.

The Plemmons Student Union Arts Committee will purchase two to eight pieces to be included in the Appalachian Artists Collection in the Plemmons Student Union.

Corwin Harrell, a graphic design major at Appalachian, designed promotional materials for the event.

The student artists are Laura Arbogast, Emily Beerbower, Jonathan Benz, Audrey Boyle, Josiah Cameron, Olivia Capizzi, Brittney Caudle, Meghan Class, Renee Cloud, Randall Dameron, Kayla Diamanti, Mauryn Eisenshmidt, Kelly Ensley, Hannah Gray, Emily Greason, Corwin Harrel, Katherine James, Lauren Jordan, Rachel Kirk, Laurie Kirkpatrick, Lindsay Kyle, Elizabeth Lauer, Madeline Lee, Justin Leitner, Jessica Lellie, Claire Lenahan, Robert Maley, Chelsea Marqueda, Kelly Martin, Katherine Meeks, Danielle Mulvihill, Gena Murfin, Veronica Nawojczyk, Ryan Novak, Melissa Ortiz, Sarah Parker, Maria Perry, Leann Rafferty, Emily Rapp, Marcie Ried, Merideth Ruff, Faisuly Scheurer, Joey Scott, Emily Smith, Kerri Smoot, Jacob Voight, Annie Walker, Alexis Wright, Emile Young and Anna Zilkowski.

The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is located at 423 W. King St., adjacent to the Appalachian State University campus in Boone. Admission is free. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from noon to 8 p.m.