For the last several weeks, students and faculty of the Art Department at the Visalia campus have been working hard and have been preparing for College of the Sequoias Art Gallery’s last exhibition for the spring semester. The 2025 Annual Juried Student Exhibition features students from art 111, 112, Beginning Gallery Exhibition, and Intermediate Gallery Exhibition. Students framed, curated and placed pieces of artwork in KAWEAH 214A and prepared the reception themselves. The exhibition is ‘juried’ because it is an opportunity to better prepare students for the realities of the exhibition submission process. Jurors select different pieces of artworks from each category to announce a winner for each category, as well as their own personal favorite piece to be awarded for the Best of Show award.
The exhibition had many featured artworks in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art from drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, color and design and printmaking. Over 188 artworks were submitted and it was narrowed down to 71 artworks made by 47 students. The artworks featured in the gallery reflected the talent and creativity of the many students who made them. Each piece of artwork had its own unique flare making it stand out in its own category. The attendees who participated in the event expressed their love for the art and how moved they were when they saw their pieces put in the exhibition.
Art Major Xavier Johnson, picked up an interest in art when he was in high school and when he started his courses here at COS he began to really enjoy the art program. Johnson especially took a liking to ceramics and stated that it was something that he always wanted to try out. Johnson was really happy when he learned that his piece, “Splitting Cracks” was put into this year’s exhibition for ceramics. He said, “I was really happy to hear about that! I kind of have a little bit of Impostor Syndrome, so seeing something that I made got into something like this… it’s just a really good feeling.”
Other art major students were also very surprised to find their artworks in the gallery, such as Danny Guerrero. Guerrero’s sculpture, “Candle Light House” also made it into the gallery and she was very happy to hear that it was selected. When she started at COS she had originally decided to be an English major but then went into Studio Art instead and truly loved it. Guerrero then decided to switch majors. She said she was really excited about this piece and really wanted to get it into the show. When it was submitted, she was really happy to see it on display.
More artwork from the 2025 Annual Juried Student Exhibition can be viewed in the President’s Display case in the Administration wing of the Sequoia Building. The exhibition will conclude Friday, May 9th, so to those interested, stop by the Visalia Campus. The Gallery is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10a.m.-4p.m. or by appointment to view on Fridays.
