Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition winners announced

BOWLING GREEN, O.— Bowling Green State University’s undergraduate art students were honored for their work at the Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition. The exhibition, displayed between March 22-April 6, attracted numerous visitors to the Dorothy Uber Bryan and Willard Wankelman galleries.

The selection, juried by Dr. Georgia Strange, professor of art at the University of Georgia, featured interactive work, stitched materials, shattered mirrors and a leather tunic hanging from the ceiling.

Aaron Bronson, a senior majoring in graphic design from Toledo, won the James W. Strong Graphic Design Studio Achievement Award. “The BFA show is the last opportunity you have to create work for an exhibition as an undergrad,” he said. “I made it my personal goal to make it into the show. I wanted to be part of an exhibition I knew I’d be sharing with some friends.”

Michelle Svonavec, a senior majoring in 2-D art education from Richmond Heights, Ohio, who took home the Medici Circle Purchase and the Tom and Jane Vanden Eynden Art Education awards, said she used the exhibition to “break down any apprehension I had about painting and finally invested my emotions and passion into the work.”

Dennis Wojtkiewicz, a professor of painting at BGSU, was impressed with the talent in this year’s exhibition. “As far as my memory is concerned, this was one of the strongest BFA shows the School of Art has ever produced,” he said. “Those who were fortunate enough to see the show were treated to an incredible range of expression in the form of traditional mediums through to the digital realm.”

Zak Tietjen, a senior majoring in digital arts from Hilliard, Ohio, received the James W. Strong Digital Arts Studio Achievement Award. His interactive piece, “Sentient Portrait of an Aging Man,” utilizes a Kinect infrared camera.

“I felt like everything was building up to this show. It was the first time we had no restrictions,” Tietjen said. “We developed the project, the idea and created it on our own schedule. In my case, I had to teach myself a lot, such as hacking the Kinect, a new programming language, and rendering an animation.

“While working on the project I thought, ‘This is the my best piece so far,’ and now that the show is over I feel like I can only get better.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The names of the students honored are listed alphabetically by county and hometown within Ohio. Out-of-state students are listed separately.

Allen County

Lima: James Parsley, a senior majoring in 3-D art, won the Medici Circle Cup Best of BFA Show Award.

Auglaize County

St. Mary’s: Heather Sudman, a senior majoring in 2-D art, won the Main Street Photo Award.

Wapakoneta: Corrinne Worden, a senior majoring in 2-D art, won the Alumni Association Award, the James W. Strong Outstanding Senior Award, and the James W. Strong 2D Studio Achievement Award.

Cuyahoga County

Richmond Heights: Michelle Svonavec, a senior majoring in 2-D art education, won the Tom and Jane Vanden Eynden Art Education Award, and the Medici Circle Purchase Award.

University Heights: Karlye Golub, a senior majoring in 3-D art, won the Mark Borsz Memorial Scholarship.

Franklin County

Dublin: Ashleigh Rothrock, a senior majoring in 2-D art, won the Arts and Sciences Purchase Award.

Hilliard: Zak Tietjen, a senior majoring in digital arts, won the James W. Strong Digital Arts Studio Achievement Award.

Lucas County

Toledo: Phil DeCorte, a senior majoring in 2-D art, won the Arts and Sciences Purchase Award and the Tom and Jane Vanden Eynden Photography Award.

            Aaron Bronson, a senior majoring in graphic design, won the James W. Strong Graphic Design Studio Achievement Award.

Montgomery County

Dayton: Ben Rubey, a senior majoring in digital arts, won the Dominick and Elizabeth Labino Art and Technology Award.

Wood County

Bowling Green: Rebecca Szparagowski, a senior majoring in 3-D art, won the Robert W. Hurlstone Memorial Art Glass Award.

            Sarah Buddendeck, a senior majoring in 2-D art, won the Marilyn Singleton/Medici Circle Leadership Award.

Out of State:

Pennsylvania

Gibsonia: Lucas Pointon, a senior majoring in 3-D art, won the James W. Strong 3-D Studio Achievement Award.