A painting by Jerry Allen won first place in VI's fine art competition
BRISTOL, VA - Virginia Intermont College art and photography and digital imaging students won accolades and prizes at the 2011 annual juried show at the Anne R. Worrell Fine Arts Center on campus.
FINE ART COMPETITION
In the art competition, first place was awarded to Jerry Allen, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., for his painting, "That's How It All Played Out." He used oils as well as spray paint and a marker. Caitlin Dye, a senior from Sewanee, Tenn., won second, and third place went to Candace Butler, a senior from Sugar Grove, Va., in the art division. Honorable Mention art awards were given to Joseph Blevins, a sophomore from Glade Spring, Va., and Jennifer Snead, a senior from Bristol, Va.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
In the photography category, first place was awarded to Jessica Nicole "Nikkie" Sandifur, a senior from Middlesboro, Ky., for "Converse Love," her digital image reflecting her affection for the shoes. Lena Stevens, a sophomore from Hernando, Miss., won second place, and third went to Kayla Brooks, a senior from Boonsboro, Md., in the photography and digital imaging competition. Stevens also won in the Honorable Mention category, along with Michelle Grenier, a senior from Scotland, Conn., Kathryn Haupt, a senior from Boonsboro, Md., Kayla Brooks, a senior from Bristol, Tenn., Benjamin Kavit, a sophomore from Yorktown, Va., and Diana Christine McLean, a junior from New Kent, Va.
ABOUT THE JUDGES
Acclaimed Bristol artist Val Lyle and award-winning Bristol Herald Courier photographer Earl Neikirk judged the show, which had nearly 50 entries. Students competed on an equal basis regardless of class level.
A resident of Bristol, Lyle is a full-time studio artist with a non-traditional approach to familiar things. She lived, worked and exhibited artwork extensively in New York City for most of a decade after graduating from Ringling School of Art Design. She pursued additional studies at Baruch College in New York City, assisting her to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ringling with honors in 1993. A native of Johnson City, Tenn., she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree with honors from East Tennessee State University in 2001.
Born in San Diego, Calif., Neikirk graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in communications. As a staff photographer for the Bristol Herald Courier, he has won awards from the Virginia Press Association, Tennessee Press Association and Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. In 2009, his photo "Foggy Fisherman" won first place, feature, TPA, first place Society of Professional Journalists and second place AP Managing Editors and winner of the D. Tennant Bryan Award for the Best Community Photo.
