Michael LaGon's "They Pee Weird" and "Forms of Deterrence" Win Second Place at VSU Art Competition

2016 Apr 21

Michael LaGon's They Pee Weird and Forms of Deterrence, both 17-inch by 22-inch pen and ink drawings, won second place at the 18th annual Juried Student Art Competition sponsored by Valdosta State University's Department of Art. The award-winning artwork was recently featured in an exhibit at the on-campus Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery.

LaGon noted that They Pee Weird and Forms of Deterrence are part of a body of work that features seven pen and ink drawings inspired by his desire to learn more about what he referred to as "America's racist past." He decided to focus on the Jim Crow era and "the common discriminatory practices at the time" and used old cartoon character images that would likely be familiar to people who had lived through that period of history and were still alive today.

"I had hoped that people would realize that these acts of terror and violence are only two or three generations removed, not that long ago," said the son of Aldon and Keisha LaGon of Decatur, Georgia. "Also, I like dark humor; South Park is one of my favorite television shows."

A university-wide invitation to participate in the Juried Student Art Competition was issued earlier this year to all currently enrolled VSU students. Regardless of their major area of study, students were encouraged to share their artistic talents by submitting a maximum of four two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional works, including graphic design, illustration, interior design, animation, drawing, printmaking, painting, aqueous media, jewelry, photography, ceramics, small metals, sculpture, and mixed media.

Julie Bowland, Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery director and professor of art, said that 56 students submitted more than 160 works of art for the Juried Student Art Competition.

Elizabeth Turk, a professor of photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design's Atlanta campus, reviewed the submissions and selected 49 pieces to be featured in the exhibition, which ran March 21 through April 8, and to compete for first-place, second-place, third-place, fourth-place, and merit awards.

LaGon had a total of three pieces chosen for the Juried Student Art Competition. The third, a 6-inch by 6-inch by 12-inch alabaster on cedar base titled Bernini's Fallacy, earned a merit award.

"In selecting the works for this year's competition I was struck not only by the diversity of media and the creative and technical skills of the students but also by the ideas that were being addressed through the work," she shared. "The voices of the young artists and designers in this exhibition (were) clearly speaking 'out loud' as they (dealt) with everything from contemporary design challenges to the difficult and complex social issues emerging in our time."

LaGon expects to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art. As a student at VSU he is a member of the Art Guild and a graphic designer with Omnino, a peer-reviewed scholarly research journal for the university's undergraduate students and academic community. He previously earned honorable mention honors at the 2015 Juried Student Art Competition.

About Valdosta State University:

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities, and a close connection to the community. Established in 1906, the institution's mission is to prepare students to meet global opportunities and challenges through excellence in teaching and learning; to expand the boundaries of current knowledge and explore the practical applications of that knowledge through excellence in scholarship and creative endeavors; and to promote the economic, cultural, and educational progress of the community and region through excellence in service outreach.

Valdosta State University seeks to accomplish this mission in a dynamic, student-centered learning environment marked by a respect for diverse abilities, backgrounds, and contributions by all members of the university community.

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