CSUN visual arts students will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the upcoming Annual Juried Art Student Exhibition, which will run from April 20 to May 12 in CSUN’s Main Gallery.

An average of 200 students typically submit around 400 pieces for consideration.  A panel of three new jurors is selected every year to judge the submissions.  This year the panel consists of an artist, a graphic designer, and a museum curator, who will choose approximately 60 to 80 of the pieces for exhibition in the 3,000 square foot gallery space.

“The jurors are pretty reputable, so for them to see my work would be great. It would be nice to have an authority legitimizing your work,” said Kenneth Rodriguez, a senior fine arts major who submitted artwork for consideration by the jurors.

The CSUN Arts Council will award cash prizes for Best in Show, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

The student art exhibition has been held annually for decades and is an important event for art students, said CSUN Art Galleries Director Jim Sweeters.

“It’s important to show what our students are doing.  The event allows them to compare their work to fellow students, and it also shows what our teachers are doing,” Sweeters said.

“What we like about the show is that all levels of students, from freshmen to grad students, can participate,” he added.

The exhibition typically includes a broad range of works representing the various disciplines.  Visitors to the gallery might expect to see painting, sculpture, animation, video, web design, photography, drawing, printmaking, graphic design, textiles, ceramics, and mixed media pieces.

“We have new sculpture teachers, so we expect to see lots of sculptures entered this year,” said Sweeters.

Sweeters said CSUN’s Art Galleries are going strong despite the economic downturn.

“We’re pretty lucky. The dean (Wm Robert Bucker) took the gallery under his wing and has given us funding,” said Sweeters.

“We really feel the gallery and the Art Department are holding their own in this downturn.  But that’s what artists do—thrive when they need to.  That’s just the nature of the business of art,” he added.

Twin sisters Katherine and Cindy Alvarez are senior illustration majors at CSUN. Both submitted artwork for consideration at the student art exhibition and described how they would feel if their artwork was chosen by the jurors for the exhibition.

“It would make me feel proud,” said Katherine Alvarez. “I work hard trying to make the pieces the best I can, so if they accept it that would make me feel good,” she added.

“If I see my work in the exhibition, I’ll be really happy—I’ll start doing cartwheels and take a picture in front of my work,” said Cindy Alvarez with a laugh.

The student art exhibition is free and open to the public. The opening reception will take place on Friday from 7-9 p.m.  A gallery talk discussing the pieces on exhibit is scheduled for Monday, April 23 at 10 a.m.

Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 12-4 p.m., and Thursdays 12-8 p.m.  Parking is available for $6 in Lot E6 on Halstead St. off Reseda Blvd.