ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/20/05 Section: Life

ISU Art student Melinda Peterson won the best in show award with (up) "Life: In Death´s Shadow". (down) undergraduate art exhibit flier art.

The concept of a university student has changed dramatically in the last three decades. The presence of the "non-traditional" student on campus went from non-existent in the early seventies to the majority population in the new millennium. Melinda Peterson fits into the category of new millennium students. She is a non-traditional student who was awarded best in show at the opening of the Undergraduate Art Exhibit, April 4, 2005.

Peterson, 54, is in her senior year at Idaho State University majoring in art. She returned to ISU to obtain her college degree after a 30 year lapse in her studies. During her break from school she ran her own business in the historical area of Pocatello called Yoga Journeys. She is a mother of two ISU students who are studying in the art and music department.

Peterson displayed two pieces in the exhibit; "Life: In Death's Shadow" and "Spatial Time Body". It is with her creativity and ability of expression shown in "life: In Death's Shadow" that she won the best in show award. The piece was created as a reflection on the relationship of life and death. She was creating this piece when her mother passed away in November of 2004.

"Being my age you become very aware of the mortality of life," Peterson said.

Peterson was also granted the 2005 Robie Robison scholarship. The scholarship is given to an art student each year. She plans to use her scholarship to participate in a three credit class that will take place this summer. The class is taught by Bob Granger and will be focused on creating art pieces from a trip the class will take to Arches National Park. The art work resulting from the class will be exhibited in a show in September.

The Undergraduate Art Exhibit allows students like Peterson to exhibit there work and have the experience of participating in a gallery show before they graduate. The show is also a good opportunity to gain recognition and acknowledgement of their talent and strengths. Peterson was able to receive that confidence boost we all need.

"I was shocked," said Peterson. "I didn't believe I really won even after I was home with the award in my hand."

The Undergraduate art exhibit is organized by Mary Jo Johnson. Johnson is a professor in the art department.

The art exhibit initially had over a hundred pieces submitted for the exhibition. Cheryl Shurtleff of Boise State University had the responsibility of being the juror for the show. She first, had to narrow the submissions into those that would appear in the exhibit. She was also responsible for determining which pieces received awards. It was with her training and eye for great work that Peterson was picked as best in show as well as receiving the Robie Robison scholarship.

Shurtleff wrote a statement about her responsibilities as juror in which she declares, "My general reaction to the over one hundred works of art entered in this exhibition was very positive. I was impressed with the diversity of media and modes of representation that were evident, and I believe this is a reflection of the strength of the department of art, the hard work of the professors here, and the commitment of all the students who entered this exhibition."

The students who submitted work had guidelines to follow for eligibility. They had to have there work mounted and gallery ready as well as meet academic guidelines. For more information about how to prepare a submission for next years exhibit contact the art department at 282-2361.

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