After a lot of hard work and artistic inspiration, several Whittier students took top prizes at the end-of-the-year student art exhibition.
Skyler Dayton's '16 topographical maps of Yosemite Valley and part of The Grand Canyon took first place at the award ceremony in Mendenhall's Greenleaf Gallery. The maps use different textures to represent different elevations of the beautiful landscapes.
"When people think of these locations, they envision how deep and vast the Grand Canyon is and how tall and majestic the mountains that create the Yosemite Valley are," Skyler explained in an artist statement accompanying his work. "My approach to my work is to have the viewer be drawn in by the textures, so that they move closer to the pieces."
Two students tied for second place: Rachel Barron '17, whose towel covered in dirt hung on the Mendenhall gallery, and Jessica Zatir '16, whose large, hole-punched paper hung nearby, from the ceiling.
Zatir was one of two students whose pieces were bought by President Sharon Herzberger, who displays the annually purchased artwork in her office, around campus, or in her home.
The other student to share that distinction was Lynette Haro '16, who painted portraits. A psychology major, Haro only declared her art minor a few days prior to the exhibition, upon realizing she had the course requirements. She said that she loves studying the individual and loves to paint portraits, so for her, psychology and creativity have an opportunity to overlap.
Third place at the exhibition went to Ruth Goziac '16, who represented nature in two complementary pieces.
