Gretchen Burns | Collegio Reporter

The University Art Association is looking for a few good artworks, and they don’t care who submits them.
“We accept any media, from painting to drawing to jewelry to ceramics,” said Mercedes Brink, junior

in art education and UAA vice president.
The annual Fall Student Art Competition is in the submission stage, and it is open to any student who desires to submit a piece.
Brink says the winners will be chosen through a vote. Students, faculty and staff members or Pittsburg residents will be able to vote between Nov. 5 and Nov. 9.
“At the end of that week, we tally up the votes and declare the winners,” Brink said.
Regan Krebs won first place last year for a painting she submitted on a whim.
“It was really awesome to win since I entered the contest for fun,” said Krebs, senior in art. “I thought that there were a lot of other amazing artworks.”
Krebs says she would like to see more artwork from students who aren’t art majors.
“There’s never really a lot of work, but it would be great to get the contest out there and expand,” she said. “It’s nice to see the variety outside the art department.”
Andrew Browne agrees with Krebs.
“I think it would help balance everything out to have different majors’ works in the competition,” said Browne, junior in art. “A lot of people like to draw and create art, but they’re not art majors and don’t feel like they can enter this competition.”
Browne says he won third place for his jewelry piece last year.
“I was just really happy that jewelry got third,” he said. “A lot of people don’t consider the jewelry we make to be art.”
Last year’s second-place winner, Alana Utterback, says that entering the competition can provide a leg up after college.
“There’s a ton of people out there who enjoy art, but it’s just their hobby, rather than a career choice,” said Utterback, senior in art. “Even if you’re not searching for a job related to art, the competition is still for your resume.”
She says getting your name out there and pushing yourself are not the only benefits.
“It’s also a confidence boost,” Utterback said. “Letting so many people showcase their talents and possibly gaining inspiration from other works they see.”
Brink says prizes are given out for first, second and third place, though the UAA has not determined exactly what the prizes will be yet.
“The prizes will consist of art supplies,” she said. “We haven’t really talked about them yet. I think we may individualize them, and they will have an expense limit. There will be sketchbooks for the runner-ups.”
Students who wish to submit an artwork in the Student Art Competition must turn their works in by noon on Oct. 31, to room 104 in Porter Hall. The competition will run Nov. 5-9. The pieces will be displayed in the Second Floor Gallery.