DMC’s Art Department is coming up on its 58th Annual National Drawing and Small Sculpture, an event Joe Cain, art professor at Del Mar, created back in 1966.
The entries were not limited to Del Mar college students.
Submissions were open to all U.S. artists, with a record 792 artworks submitted for consideration, including 25 sculptures and 28 two-dimensional works.
Accepted submissions included work that has been created within the past three years. Artists were allowed to submit a maximum of three pieces. Artwork that was accepted could be submitted within three years of production.
All the artwork that is accepted will be eligible for purchase consideration.
Elena Rodriguez, with recruitment and engagement in the Art and Drama Department, oversees notifying the public of the upcoming event.
“Last semester, I was focused on making sure artists applied to this show because it’s a good opportunity. There are three purchase awards which DMC buys and becomes a National Collection.”
Two sculpture purchase awards will receive $3,000 each, two-dimensional purchase award is $1,500 with a total purchase award of $7,500.
Assistant Professor of Art and Gallery Coordinator Benjamin Ogrodnik runs the annual exhibitions, collections management, publicity/marketing, and curating/installing shows in the Cain Art Gallery.
“Another unique feature is that this show enlarges the college’s permanent art collection. Our gallery storage is a treasure trove of artworks purchased from as far back as 1969,” Ogrodnik said.
Juror and sculptor Mark H. Cowardin from Johnson County Community College in Kansas will be judging.
Cowardin obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Arizona and his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas. His artistic creations are housed in numerous private and public collections, such as the John Michael Kohler Art Center, Kohler Corporation, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, and Rockhurst University.
“I really like work that draws me in with its aesthetics,” Cowardin said. “I look for strongly crafted work that seems to engage in a narrative that goes beyond straight-forward observations.”
There are a couple of public events associated with the exhibition.
At 11 a.m. Feb 15, Cowardin will present a lecture discussing his artwork, perspectives, and insights as an artist. This lecture will take place in the Richardson Performance Hall on the Heritage Campus.
Additionally, from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 16, the opening reception for the exhibition will be held at the Cain Memorial Art Gallery.
The reception is free to attend and will include food provided by Citrus Bistro as well as a cash bar.
Submissions will be available for the public to view from Feb. 16 to May 1.
For more information, contact the DMC art office at 361-698-1216 or art@delmar.edu
IF YOU GO
What: 58th Annual National Drawing and Small Sculpture Show opening reception
When: 6-8 p.m. Feb 16
Where: Joseph A. Cain Memorial Art Gallery, Fine Arts Center, DMC Heritage Campus
Cost: FREE (except cash at bar)
