The most exciting time of the year has arrived for the art enthusiasts of San Jacinto College. Once again, the South Campus is hosting the annual juried Spring Student Art Show, beginning April 22, where students with a passion for the arts have an opportunity to showcase their paintings, photos, videos, sculptures, drawings, and digital art while competing to win cash prizes.

Eric Schnell, the Co-Founder of the Galveston Artist Residency, will judge the show and choose the winners of the $300, $200, and $100 awards.

South Campus Art Professor and Gallery Curator, Bradly Brown, said the event’s objective is to display students’ talents while allowing them to network and gain experience showing their work.

“The San Jacinto College South Campus gallery presents a student show once a year to highlight the work of our Fine Art and Design students in a professionally produced exhibition,” Brown said. “This gives the students an opportunity to have their work viewed by an established and respected member of the local art community who has an international reach.”

However, Jeffrey McGee, Art and Design Department chair, said the difficulties they faced organizing the show included receiving, installing, and displaying the students’ artwork.

“One of the biggest challenges with an exhibition like this is dealing with the logistics that come with managing dozens of artists and over a hundred submissions,” McGee said.

Despite the obstacles, McGee said he looks forward to the show because he believes they offer another perspective about the individual artists.

“This is a great opportunity to really see the breadth of work that comes from our students and understand them beyond the classroom experience,” McGee said. “It helps me understand where the students are coming from; their concerns and interests come through in the artwork.”

Likewise, Brown said the art show creates an open space for students to promote creativity and hold open conversations about their work.

“Art cannot live in a vacuum; it needs an audience to reach its full potential,” Brown said.

Looking toward the future, McGee said he hopes the program will be able to offer more financial benefits to students involved in art show exhibitions.

“If we can help our most promising and talented students pursue their creative path,” McGee said, “it would help change lives.”

The Spring Student Art Show will be on display from April 22 through May 8 in the art gallery (Room 143) of Flickinger Fine Arts Center (S15) on the South Campus.