Each year Columbia’s undergrad and grad students compete for the prestigious Albert P. Weisman Award a matching grant award intended to help advanced undergrad and graduate students complete a substantial media-based project that is already underway. Students submit work samples with their applications that demonstrate the concept and purpose of the project, and InterArts MFA candidates have consistently had a strong showing in the award listings.
The 2013 Weisman Award Exhibition in the Arcade Gallery held its reception and Award Ceremony during the WAC Crawl. Heavy rains and lighting did not deter a large crowd from showing up to see the work and wait for the announcement of the winners. This year’s Best in Show award was presented to Jackie McGill, MFA 2013 in InterArts Book and Paper, for her interdisciplinary piece Line of Work.
McGill’s Installation at the May 2013 MFA Thesis Exhibition
McGlll’s installation piece was inspired by her family history, a strong respect for craft and labor, and how the two are intertwined as part of Chicago’s “big shoulders” architecture.
Many other InterArts graduate students are represented in the 2013 award winner listing and the Arcade exhibition, which is on view through October 11. The recipients are from all InterArts areas: MFA in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper, MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Media, and MA in Interdisciplinary Arts.
Artists from InterArts represented this year include, Megan Pitcher, Monica Brown, Jennifer Rodriguez, Claire Sammons, Hannah King, Jacqueline McGill, Krista Franklin, and Elizabeth Gilder.
Work by Claire Sammons
For more on the Weisman Award, click here.