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Public Relations and Marketing | Published Apr 23, 2021
Paintings, pastels, pottery and more are part of the College of Lake County’s 40th Annual Student Art Competition this spring. The public can view all student artwork displayed in a virtual gallery since COVID-19 still prevents the community from gathering in the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art on campus. However, this year the college is excited to feature a curated pop-up exhibition of works from this show at Gurnee Mills.
“It’s exciting to see art created by College of Lake County students on display in public forum again,” said art instructor and gallery curator Ann Rintz. “It’s a completely different experience when you get to see art in person. The response and quality of work submitted for the show this year was superior.”
Artwork: "Warm Welcome" by Chihi Liu, oil on canvas. Award of Excellence recipient.
Starting April 22 through May 10 you can find a selection of student art on display near Burlington and Top Shelf Ice Arena. Convenient parking and easy access make this pop-up a special opportunity for the community to engage with CLC artists. Visitors are required to wear face masks and social distance while inside Gurnee Mills.
The competition is a juried exhibit featuring painting, drawing, graphic design, photography, ceramics and sculpture. Students were awarded a combined $3,000 in cash prizes, including a $500 scholarship from the Lake County Art League and another $500 Phoebe Boyd scholarship.
“As a graphic design student at CLC, it makes me beyond excited to see my work in the Student Art Competition,” said Thais Souza, an international student from Brazil currently living in Palatine. “It is a pleasure to have my photographs displayed among so many other talented artists and be given the opportunity to compete for prizes. I thank CLC and Gurnee Mills for making this possible and always being so inclusive and open to artists."
Artwork: "Self Portrait Line Study" by Thais Souza, digital photography. Award of Merit recipient.
This year's juror, Kendra Kett has 30 years of highly successful performance in the business and education management sector, working with and supporting Fortune 500 companies. She is one of only six winners of the Jim Greenman Lifetime Achievement Award for child advocacy.
Inspired by her successful business career and passion for fine art, Kendra launched the Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, Illinois. Blue Moon Gallery has grown into a thriving venture for artists and collectors in Northern Illinois and built a solid reputation for high quality art exhibitions featuring local artists as well as for achieving an exciting sales record through her partnerships with art collectors. Kendra’s reputation for excellence and innovation makes her an immensely helpful strategic partner to artists and collectors.
The Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art is committed to displaying the works of Illinois artists and increasing the visibility of nationally known artists in Lake County. Although the physical gallery is currently closed due to COVID-19, the public is welcome to view this year’s entries online.
About College of Lake County:
The College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves in northeastern Illinois. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake,
Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, college classes are affordable and accessible to help each student achieve academic, career and personal goals. More than 70,000 students graduated with degrees and certificates since the college opened in 1969.
The College of Lake County is the only higher-education institution ranked among the top 15 best places to work in Illinois by Forbes and is a national leader in many areas, including sustainability and conservation.