Visual Arts Center annual award winners

Tidewater Community College’s Visual Arts Center held the awards ceremony for its 45th annual Student Art and Design Exhibition on March 26. More than 200 works, including studio arts, photography, graphic design, ceramics and glassblowing, created by students for art classes since last May, were featured in the exhibition. All work will be on display through April 17.

Richard Cooke and Meghan Fee Students Meghan Fee and Richard Cooke earned top honors. Fee, working toward her Associate of Applied Arts in Studio Arts (Specialization in Glass), won the President’s Award for her vase titled “Life Blood,” created as a homage to her friend Sydnie. The two, she said, often took adventurous treks into the wood of Chesapeake sometimes finding animal bones and deer skeletons. “Those were the best days of our young lives,” she said.

Cooke won the VAC Purchase Award and his charcoal drawing of Sir Ian McKellan will become part of the Anne S. Iott Permanent Art Collection of TCC. A 24-year Army veteran, Cooke is earning his Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design (Specialization in Multimedia). He created the likeness of the British actor in a Drawing I class at the VAC and was thrilled for the recognition. “When I saw all the great work there, I was honored, ecstatic really,” he said.

Programming for the exhibition includes illustrated lectures by a visiting artist and a visiting graphic designer. On April 5, David Campbell, lecturer and instructor at the College of William & Mary, will present “Observation, Imagination, Invention.”

On April 13, Cheryl White, director of the Glass Wheel Studio in Norfolk, will present “CRAFT is not a four-letter word.” Both programs begin at 12:30 p.m. at the VAC in rooms 208 and 209.

Below is a list of all student winners.

President’s Award (Edna Baehre-Kolovani): Meghan Fee Life Blood • glass

VAC Purchase Award: Richard Cooke Sir Ian McKellan • charcoal

Hartung Gallery and Art Supplies Award of Excellence for Color: Rebecca Myers Disharmony • oil

Award of Excellence in 2-D Design/Fundamentals: Alexandra Brannon Eye of the Beholder • paper

Award of Excellence in Ceramics: Elizabeth McCoy Congruity X3 • clay

Award of Excellence in Glass: Kevin McLeod textured vase • glass

Award of Excellence in Graphic Design: Rebecca Stetina-Sawyer social awareness poster • computer generated

Award of Excellence in Painting: Lorenzo Childress Drapes • oil

Award of Excellence in Photography: Anna Sobol cypress typology • photograph

Lynne Hundley Award of Excellence for Mixed Media: Erica Bridges self-portrait • fabric, thread, wood

Director’s Award: ChiChung Chan Misako documentary • video

Vice President’s Award (Felicia Blow): Rebecca Ferguson self-portrait • graphite

Vice President’s Award (Daniel DeMarte): Joshua Johnson Acoma • glass

Provost’s Award: (Lisa Rhine, Chesapeake Campus): Jeffrey Heiser Watermen’s Demise • photograph

Provost’s Award (Jeffery Boyd, Norfolk Campus) Chris Vickers Expecting • clay

Provost’s Award (Michelle Woodhouse, Portsmouth Campus): Bryanna Wells Wild Within • clay, paint

Provost’s Award: (Michael Summers, Virginia Beach Campus): Christy Conley A Clockwork Heart • linocut

The Coffee Shoppe • Chrysler Museum of Art Award of Excellence in Sculpture: Jennifer Detlefsen Frigid • glass

Darrell and Sally Craig Award of Excellence in Drawing: Alan Burtchell Extreme Closeup • charcoal

Shelley Brooks • Chrysler Museum of Art Award of Excellence for a Master Interpretation: Julie Larkin master copy after Emily Schroeder Willis • clay

Ed Gibbs • Portsmouth Museums Award of Excellence in Photography: Jesse MacKenzie Norfolk Corner #2 • photograph

Judge’s Choice Award (Ruth Jones): Kelly Stubbs Eye of One Who Sees • scratchboard

John and Karen Kise Award of Excellence in Graphic Design (in memory of Dr. & Mrs. Mearl A. Kise): Marion German Cyrus Highsmith • computer generated

Jean Peacock Award of Excellence for Expressive Content: Sean Matias self-portrait • oil