The tenth annual All Student Show was presented by the Ann Flack Boseman Gallery at UNCW. The exhibition will run through April 3 and is located on the second floor of Fisher University Union.

The display was juried by John Sharkey, co-owner of the Checker Cab Gallery. Sharkey looked through a total of 75 drawings, paintings, photography, mixed media, ceramic and sculpture pieces in order to find the best in show. He has spent 30 years as a residential and commercial painting contractor with a concentration in faux and decorative painting.

“There (were) over 70 pieces submitted for the exhibition and 26 pieces were chosen,” said Shane Fernando, Interim Director of Arts and Programs.

All art work was eligible for the exhibition; there were not strict requirements for the artists. Each artist simply had to finish their work and was held to a high standard of presentation.

“I primarily sought to recognize art that appeared unique, authentic and a personal expression of the artist.  Whether or not grandiose themes emerge, I love work presented as a unified whole where a oneness comes across through the composition, color, values and of course, the presentation,” said Sharkey.

Ashley Reber won best of show with her piece “My Steel Concubine”.

“It feels absolutely amazing; I’m honestly in utter shock over it. I entered the piece into the show just hoping it would make the cut just to get in. To win the show with a welding I never thought anyone else would see as art is completely humbling,” Reber said. “Tara Donovan and her naturalistic tendencies inspired the piece I created along with the nautilus shell … I never really had a focus with art because I liked all mediums, but working on this piece made me realize I enjoy working in 3D quite tremendously and decided afterwards to make sculpture my focus … working on this piece I was determined to make it everything I wanted it to be.”

“A singular, parallel circular feeling takes over in this simple and highly confined piece.  The connected, receding plane presents a form alluding temporal dimension toward both the archaic, earthen motion which creates a conch shell’s spiral and also toward a fresh awareness that this human hewn metal sees nature reclaiming, oxidizing,” Sharkey said of Reber’s piece. 

Christopher Alexander and Ryan Terry were awarded honorable mentions.

“Imagination and a medium (is all it takes to create an art piece),” said Alexander.

“For me, it takes nothing but the materials to make it. Art is something that comes naturally to people who have the need to create,” stated Terry.

Alexander submitted a painting titled “Family Portrait” which was inspired by his favorite artist, Egon Schiele.

“The artist’s very direct brush strokes push the values into his constrained pallet. His piece balances its spontaneity with a conscientious tone,” commented Sharkey.

Alexander doesn’t have a “concrete goal” at the moment as to what he what’s to accomplish with his talent, but he “want(s) to continue to evolve as an artist.”

“Don’t be afraid to try new directions, mistakes can lead to great discoveries,” commented Alexander.

The show winners were announced at the Feb. 23 opening reception and are as follows:

Best of Show: Ashley Reber- My Steel Concubine

Purchase Award: Louis Shackleton- Do you have the feeling that you’re being watched?

Honorable Mention:

Christopher Alexander- Family Portrait

Ryan Terry- Red Cloud

Erin Terry- Red Cloud

Erin Tetteron- Grapefruit Sectionals (Diptych)

Merryn Kepcha- Interior Series #4

Timmins Mervin- Raku Stoneware