Drury University’s Annual All Student Competitive Exhibition debuted on Friday, April 4, 2025 in the Pool Art Center Gallery, showcasing student artwork in a variety of mediums ranging from painting and ceramics to weaving and fiber art.

Any Drury student could submit up to three works, created either in class or independently, as long as they were completed during their time at the university. This year’s jury, Professor Jo Van Arkel, did a blind evaluation, assessing only the title, medium, and artwork itself – without knowing the artist’s name.

“I look for technical skill, creative expression, a conceptual argument or a response to an artistic approach,” Van Arkel said. “I wasn’t seeking a particular theme, but rather a variety of forms, textures and ideas.”

Van Arkel praised the craftsmanship and variety of this year’s submissions, emphasizing the use of bold colors in paintings, the variety of shapes in ceramics, and the meticulous technique in woven pieces.

“Student work is always fresh to me,” she said. “Students can be fearless. Their work often challenges me to think about the narratives I bring to art.”

For some students, such as Amber Shetter, the exhibition provided an opportunity to share their personal work with a wider audience.

“Honestly, it felt like the right time to share something that’s usually just mine,” Shetter said. “I picked pieces that felt honest to where I am right now creatively and emotionally.”

Shetter stated that the pieces she chose were not necessary polished but evoked passion and curiosity. She described art as both a passion and a means of processing the world around her.

“It’s somewhere between a coping mechanism and a lifeline,” she said. “It’s the one thing that always feels like mine.”

Other students made their way to the gallery through academic avenues. Aubrey Bennett submitted several pieces, including work from her weaving class, but it was a crochet piece she made on her own time that was chosen for the exhibition.

“I thought it turned out really cool,” Bennett said. “Anyone can go in there and see something I’ve been working on since November — and I can put it on my résumé.”

Bennett stated that she enrolled in the class to maintain credit hours, but the process of creating things became essential to her well-being.

“I begin to suffer and die if I am not making something,” she said. “I have to be making something at all times.”

Van Arkel stated that student displays like this one not only reflect personal discovery, but also create community among artists.

“A gallery show can capture the vibe of a group of artists working in close proximity, responding to a shared environment but bringing their own energy to it,” she said. “It sounds cliché, but it’s important to be true to yourself and your purpose while trying to connect with others. Not everyone will respond to your work — and that’s OK.”

The Annual All Student Competitive Exhibition will be on display at the Pool Art Center Gallery throughout April. Admission is free and open to the public.

Featured artwork by Amber Shetter; Photo taken by Leila Ehrichs.