Photography major Ben Word was awarded the PSC Visual Arts Department’s highest honor, the Anna Award, which includes a trophy and $1,000. Presented in memory of Pensacola arts patron Anna Lamar Switzer, the Anna Award is given to an outstanding student selected by faculty based on academic excellence, artistic achievement and overall contribution to the PSC arts community.
Nathan Roberts won The Juror’s Choice Award, selected by internationally exhibited artist Relja Penezic, for the photograph “Wilderness.”
Penezic served as guest juror, curating 82 works from 245 submissions for the exhibition, which runs through May 1 in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center on the PSC Pensacola Campus. Penezic studied at the University of Belgrade, and his creative practice includes painting, video, printmaking, photography and film.
“I was so impressed with the variety and interesting approaches in the work entered, as well as impressed with the talent, ambition and originality of the work,” said Penezic, who advised the student artists that judging is a subjective process and that some of the greatest artists were not recognized for their work during their lifetimes.
Photography major Ben Word was awarded the PSC Visual Arts Department’s highest honor, the Anna Award, which includes a trophy and $1,000. Presented in memory of Pensacola arts patron Anna Lamar Switzer, the Anna Award is given to an outstanding student selected by faculty based on academic excellence, artistic achievement and overall contribution to the PSC arts community.
Nathan Roberts won The Juror’s Choice Award, selected by internationally exhibited artist Relja Penezic, for the photograph “Wilderness.”
Penezic served as guest juror, curating 82 works from 245 submissions for the exhibition, which runs through May 1 in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center on the PSC Pensacola Campus. Penezic studied at the University of Belgrade, and his creative practice includes painting, video, printmaking, photography and film.
“I was so impressed with the variety and interesting approaches in the work entered, as well as impressed with the talent, ambition and originality of the work,” said Penezic, who advised the student artists that judging is a subjective process and that some of the greatest artists were not recognized for their work during their lifetimes.
“The only criterion is that if you are compelled to make art and you make art, you are an artist,” said Penezic.
Top honors from the event were also awarded to the “Four Triumphs” ceramic sculptural series by Cyril Rusnak, who won Best of Show and $500.
Samuel Camacho won the Anna Society Award ($100); Max Wininger and Gabriela Vladimirova won the David Saunders Award ($250 each); Genevieve Zavocki won the Cornerstone Award ($250); Sydni Hutchens won the Aislinn Kate Photography Award ($250); and Keosha Horton won the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society Award ($100).
Other awards were presented as follows.
- Visual Arts Department Awards, voted on by faculty: Kenzie Hoar, first place ($250) and third place ($75); Natalee Stuart, second place ($125); and Yu’Myia Walker, Gary Hines and Seth Mitchell, honorable mention ($50 each).
- The Noble Arts Award: Andrew Johnson, first place ($375); Elena Hynes, second place ($325); and Andrew Rehwinkel, third place ($300).
- Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille Photography Award: Kylan McMichael, first place ($400); Benjamin Calloway, second place ($350); and Kaitlyn Provo, third place ($250).
- Gulf Coast Camera Photography Award: Miranda Monaé Betts, first place ($200); Kylan McMichael, second place ($125); Andrew Johnson, third place ($75).
- Pat Regan Memorial Award: Kenzie Hoar, first place ($225); Yu’Myia Walker, second place ($175); Taylor Heppner, third place ($125); Seth Mitchell, fourth place ($75); JimJin Powell, fifth place ($50).
- Tony Sam People’s Choice Award: Cyril Rusnak, first place ($75); Max Wininger, second place ($50); Kaitlyn Provo, third place ($50).
- President’s Choice Award, selected by PSC President Ed Meadows for display in the President’s Office: Dalton Gordon. Samantha Willis, Sydni Hutchens, Grace Carnes, JimJin Powell, Samuel Camacho and Kenzie Hoar received honorable mention.
In addition to the current student awards, four scholarships were granted to incoming high school artists based on their academic performance and portfolios.
Gretchen Williams from Pensacola High School received the $3,600 Academic Excellence Scholarship; Ava Kibodeaux from Pace High School and Kira Wagner from Milton High School each received the $3,000 Anna Lamar Switzer Endowed Scholarship; and Asher Moore from Pensacola High School received the $1,500 Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grille Photography Award.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. Visit https://visualarts.pensacolastate.edu/switzer-gallery or call 850-484-2550 for details.