Student Art Showcase

From first time artists to veteran sculptors, CFCC showed off its finest pieces for everyone to see on April 7, in the Webber Center. The event was hosted by the Visual Arts Department.

Artists such as Lisa Montalbano, Kathleen Hamilton and Christopher Velez all won awards, and some even had their art purchased by CFCC.

"I never ever expected it, I'm really happy," said Montalbano, 49, fine arts major. "I started painting last semester with Mrs. Faulkner, and she just brings out the creative side of me. I'm really excited I get to show my art and that people get to enjoy it."

CFCC purchased three of Montalbano's pieces.

Christopher Velez, 21, architectural engineering major, said he is most excited about the exposure he is getting.

"I think it's great to have my pieces on display. I enjoy showing off my artwork, but if you don't have the success ahead of time, then you show it off and you're nervous about it," Velez said.

Richard Callum, 20, liberal arts major, agreed.

"I'm not nervous about it, I like it." Callum said. "Being so early in the artist's career, it's about one of the only ways you can get exposure at all."

Jan Hitchcock, art teacher, was proud to accept awards on the behalf of one of the top artists of the day, her student Kathleen Hamilton.

"Kathleen Hamilton is an excellent artist. She is very experimental in her work," Hitchcock said. "Her painting is innovative, imaginative and creative."

Hamilton's art won best of show, and two of her pieces were purchased by CFCC.

From the public's point of view, Lea White, 19, English major, especially enjoyed the gallery.

"I think it's great, it's not judging somebody. You don't come around and tell somebody what's wrong with their art, you look for the beauty in it," White said. "I think it does nothing but inspire everybody to do work."

The open gallery provides students first time experience with the public and with exposure of their work.

The gallery will be open until May 5, from 11 a.m-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free

Art Showcase Winners

Best of Show: Tree Line, Kathleen Hamilton

First Place: Tree of Life, Connie Tice

Second Place: Memories, Morgan Park

Third Place: Birthright, Lisa Montalbano

Honorable Mention: Wrong Turn, Leah Coon

Honorable Mention: Cassandra, Victoria Johnson

Honorable Mention: Slice of Orange, Lisa Van Landingham

Honorable Mention: Model, Lisa Montalbano

Honorable Mention: Picnic Ant, Vanessa Mastropolo

Honorable Mention: Plugged In, Nicole Cohee

Honorable Mention: Spigot, Kathy Hamilton

Honorable Mention: Space Elevator, Chris Velez

Honorable Mention: Landscape, Thomas Ho Fei Sit

Honorable Mention: Seaside, Vanessa Mastropolo



Purchase Award: Tree Line, Kathleen Hamilton

Purchase Award: Lilies, Kathleen Hamilton

Purchase Award: Model, Lisa Montalbano

Purchase Award: Emi-Ane, Lisa Montalbano

Purchase Award: Anastacia Stevens, Lisa Montalbano