UWF Presents TAGGED 2011 Art Exhibit

The University of West Florida is currently displaying student art in the annual TAGGED exhibition at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

“It usually happens in the spring,” Art Gallery director Amy Bowman says. “All students at UWF are eligible.”

The exhibit, sponsored by the Lewis Bear Company, allows students to submit works of art despite not being affiliated with the art department.  

“They submit their works either in physical form or digital submission,” Bowman says.

Bowman also says the UWF art department faculty judges the works to determine what will be displayed.   She also says this year’s exhibition has been very competitive.

According to a Feb. 16 “Voyager” article, more than 60 students submitted over 100 works.  34 of the submitted works were selected from 27 students.

An open reception was held on Feb. 17.  Bowman says there was a huge turnout that night, with approximately 184 people.

Jordan Gilliland, senior majoring in philosophy, has two works of art on display at the TAGGED exhibit.

His work, “Honest Hunger,” is a sculpture made out of wood and electrical wires. His second piece, “Imfamy,” is a large canvas piece.”

“It is a drawing that I did with just paper and ink,” he says. “This one I was just exploring the process of playing with the ink and water and how it works on the paper.”

Bowman says this exhibit is a way to bring the community together through art.

“It’s really about celebrating the work that the students are producing at UWF,” Bowman said. “It’s also an opportunity for the entire university as well as students that are working in the community to come together.”

Donna White, art enthusiast, says she thought the exhibit was excellent and the students really captured what the exhibit was about.

The exhibit will be on display until Mar. 4. For more information on the event, visit uwf.edu/art or tag82uwf.wordpress.com.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. The gallery is also open on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.