Stratosphere Winners (2014)

The new College-sponsored juried art competition, STRATOSPHERE, culminated during “Spring for the Arts” at the Downtown Gallery. The top 25 student finalists’ works were exhibited and judged by guest juror Scott Sherer. Prizes ranged from the $1,000 Best in Show, to second and third prize, $500 and $250 respectively, and the People’s Choice which garnered $500.

The competition was open to any full-time undergraduate student on the main campus of Kent State. Regardless of their major, students were invited to submit up to three art pieces pertaining to this year's theme "Art and the Body." Stratosphere was a resounding success with 130 submissions! Student participants’ majors included psychology, fashion design, photo illustration, dance, engineering technology, as well as painting, sculpture, jewelry/metals, printmaking, textiles, and ceramics.

The exhibit was judged by Scott Sherer, of the University of Texas in San Antonio who serves as an associate professor of art history and director of the UTSA Gallery and Satellite Space.

Congratulations to Katie Scekeres, a dance performance major from the School of Theatre and Dance winning the Best in Show $1000 prize for her video of her dance piece entitled “Grey Area (s).”

Winners for the 2014 Stratosphere Juried Art Competition

Best in Show ($1,000)

Katie Scekeres Major: Dance Performance Video: Dance piece entitled “Grey Area (s)”

Second place ($500)

Lindsey James Major: Jewelry/Metals Winning piece: Postules Wool, Copper, 3’ x 1.5’

Third place ($250)

E.J. Knesek IV Major: Printmaking/Painting Piece: “Ce n’est pas une chemise col blanc” Body Matrix Printmaking

People’s Choice ($500)

Gina DeSimone Major: Photo Illustration Piece: Photo Series entitled “What I Don’t Like”

Photo: Stratosphere winners celebrate at the Downtown Gallery with the Dean! (l to r) Gina DeSimone, Katie Scekeres, Dean John R. Crawford, Lindsey James and Edwin J. Knesek IV.