The annual Rumsey and Potenza Competition is an opportunity for junior art majors to show their skills and compete for two different awards.
The Rumsey Award was established through a donation from Buffalo painter Evelyn Rumsey Lord and the Potenza Scholarship is sponsored by the family of Sally Hoskins Potenza, a UB art student who died before completing her studies, according to a press release.
This year's awards range from $2,500 to $3000.
According to the official information packet published by the art department, the Rumsey Award is meant to fund a summer program for 2003 that may either involve travel for artistic and personal enrichment, or for tuition assistance for a summer program in an art studio sponsored by an accredited institution other than UB.
Competitors must also submit a formal written proposal to the faculty of judges to explain their intentions for the award describing travel plans or a study project.
The work, which can be viewed in the basement gallery of the CFA, varies from painted to graphic art, traditional to contemporary. Each student's submission is highly original and shows obvious talent, with few similarities between the artists.
Aasta Deth, a junior art major with a concentration in painting, would like to travel to New Orleans to observe and create artwork regarding traditional death and funeral practices of the famous city.
"Apart from the great experience to show my art, I want to go to grad school and this would help me to get in since I would have this award over other students," said Deth.
Deth feels she has a good chance of winning since her work stands out from the others.
"There is a lot of computer and photo work," she said. "My work is less literal with more to look into."
Zhou Juan Nan, a junior art major with a communication design concentration, is now hoping for the opportunity to travel to and study art in China.
"I am Chinese and I would like to not only go back to my home, but also learn a different style of design other than the North American way I have only learned," Nan said. "I am not involved in this so much for the money, but more for the experience to show my art work and experience art in China."
The committee of judges consists of the art department faculty members from concentrations such as photo, painting, and computer art.
In past years, between one and four winners have been selected to receive the awards. If multiple winners are selected, award money will be divided up between them.
"In relation to the other pieces, which are more cut and dry class projects, my art is very ambiguous, I like to leave my work open for interpretation," said Eric Slate, a junior art major with a sculpture concentration.
Slate's proposal is much different than those of the other competing artists. He would like to take a month-long road trip cross-country.
"My art focuses around the human figure so I want to travel to the cities as well as the small towns that no one knows about and meet everyday people living everyday lives that will make my art grow and change," said Slate.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
