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By Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Albany State University student Benjamin McMiller’s sculpture “The Broomwich” was named Best in Show among entries in the Albany Area Arts Council’s 15th annual South Georgia College Art Competition. Top works created by students at Albany and Valdosta State universities in six categories were honored during a reception/awards ceremony at the Carnegie Library Gallery Friday night.

“The community has always embraced this exhibit; we always have a good turnout of our core supporters, and usually people who do not come to our gallery as often come out for the college exhibit,” Arts Council Executive Director Nicole Williams said. “There’s something about college students where they’re a little more willing to go outside the box, so you usually see some interesting and exciting pieces.

“But we avoid the hit-and-miss element because these pieces that are entered in the competition are juried. Only the best from both schools, as determined by their professors, are part of the exhibit.”

Abby Mickler, a Valdosta State junior who took second-place in the drawing competition with her piece “Contently Eerie,” said entering the competition has allowed her to branch out.

“I’ve always pretty much kept my work to myself, but my professors pushing me to enter my work in a show like this has turned out to be a cool thing for me,” Mickler, who is from Jasper, Fla., said. “(The piece that took second place) is something I did in one of my drawing classes where the professor told us to design a still life that represents us.

“I’ve been in one other show before, so this is helping me branch out. I submitted five pieces for consideration, and two of mine were selected for the show.”

Both VSU Associate Professor of Art/Photography Dominick Gheesling and Albany State interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences/Professor of Fine Arts/Painting & Drawing Chazz Williams said events like the South Georgia College Art Competition provide great experiences for their students.

“They get to really deal with the minutiae of the professional side of art and what it takes to work in this arena,” Gheesling said. “The networking aspect is important, too. They get to meet students from other schools and realize evaluation of their work outside the classroom setting.”

Added Chazz Williams: “Our judge for this event, Justin Hodges (who teaches photography and digital media at Georgia Southwestern State University) said this is one of the highest-quality exhibits of this kind that he’s seen in a while. That makes the opportunity for our students to showcase their work an even more valuable experience.”

In addition to ASU’s McMiller, winners in the competition included:

Painting: First Place — Emmanuel Carter (VSU); Second — Quadre Curry-Wilkerson (ASU)

Drawing: First Place — Curry-Wilkerson (ASU); Second — Mickler (VSU)

Ceramics: First Place — Holly Wheaton (ASU); Second — Shederrius Williams (ASU)

Sculpture: First Place — Ashley Smith (VSU); Second — Kim Taylor (VSU)

Photography: First Place — Keishaunda Haynes (VSU); Second — Bethany Davis (VSU)

Graphics/Printmaking: First Place — Nekeysha Anderson (ASU); Second — Andrea Kimble (VSU)