Gallery • 9 Photos

As patrons enter, they observe their surroundings. Washed over with natural sunlight, a large hand built ceramic gun stands in front of Cleve Carney’s windows. Juxtaposing the controversial yet intricate weapon are delicate pink flowers; two opposites playing cohesively into one piece of art.

Each year, College of DuPage students are able to submit their personal artwork to be displayed in the Cleve Carney Art Gallery.

This year’s exhibit was juried by Neysa Page-Lieberman, the Director and Curator of the Department of Exhibitions, Performance and Student Spaces at Columbia College Chicago.

Madeline Menconi, who hand-built the ceramic gun placed second in the area of three-dimensional art. “When I started the project in class, it meant nothing to me. It was just another class assignment,” said Menconi who originally built her piece in the fall for her ceramics class.

“By the time I was done, and after I put my heart and soul into the piece, it meant the world. I loved the challenge of adding delicate feminine touches to a masculine form. Winning second place in the three-dimensional category was such a surprise. The juror, Neysa Page-Lieberman, is such an interesting, passionate woman and it was a great feeling to know that someone like her, with so much art experience, liked one of my pieces.”

Most important to Menconi were those surrounding her. “It was amazing to be able to share a once in a lifetime experience with family, friends and professors that have been a huge influence on me,” she continued. “I’m very excited for all the artists that took a chance and submitted their work to the gallery, whether they were selected or not.”

In total, 51 students had work chosen to be displayed. The artwork was placed into two divisions: three-dimensional and two-dimensional art. Students placed first, second and third. Best of show was also awarded.

The two-dimensional works hang on the gallery walls allowing onlookers to walk the gallery’s perimeter before meeting the three dimensional pieces in the middle.

Two dimensional works varied from graphic prints to paintings, such as Fanny Moy’s “Chattel.”

Through the medium of oil on canvas, Moy painted the vivid and emotional story of African children kept in confinement behind barbed wire. Her use of strong primary colors contrasting with a sharp silver helped her place first in two-dimensional art.

Mediums of ceramics, plaster and reclaimed objects were all used in various pieces of three-dimensional art.

The playful yet strong use of shadows and light, along with movement, in Adam Lee’s “Excellence in Motion” helps gallery goers to see the power coming from a racehorse. Lee placed second in the two-dimensional category.

Julia Feldballe used herself as the subject of her piece, “Standing Against Society & Confused Transgender.” With a deeply vulnerable expression, Feldballe is clothed in the first digital print. For the second, she stands topless in a black room, only covered by bandages which bind down her breasts. The emotional piece allows patrons to see two sides to the topic of the trans community.

Small, yet eye-catching, Courtney Wells’ “People” stopped patrons in their tracks. Set on a chest-high display table, patrons can look into the eyes of Wells’ mini-citizens and see what stories they hold. “People” are a set of seven heads intricately carved representing various men. These heads display rigid anger, screaming pain, blissful content and more. The extreme detail put in from Wells’ is seen with her lifelike wrinkles and movement of skin. Wells’ placed first in three-dimensional art.

The annual juried student art exhibit is open to the public through May 21. Student artwork is available for purchase.