Artists Honored at Exhibition

The University of Mary Washington recently announced Hilary Galbreaith and Katie Rosinski as the recipients of the annual student awards at the Annual Student Art Exhibition.

Each spring, the duPont Gallery gives students the opportunity to participate in an art display judged by Rebecca Cross, owner of Cross Mackenzie Gallery in Washington D.C.

Galbreaith, a senior and studio art and philosophy double major, received the Emil Schnellock Award for her painting “x:y” on April 5.

Galbreaith experienced a long-distance relationship first hand after studying abroad in Paris in spring 2011. This inspired her in her most recent collection of works.

“I was really addressing how close personal relationships are changed,” Galbreaith said. “You have these memories from shared spaces and then the weird thing that results is this disembodied feeling that you can see the space but you can’t touch them. It’s this juxtaposition of a flat screen and memory of physicality.”

It was important and personal for Galbreaith to name the artwork and figure out how the pieces belonged together.

“‘x:y’ is distance over time or person-to-person,” said Galbreaith. “I wanted to evoke a sort of ratio of relationship but still be open-ended.”

Galbreaith began painting at age 14 and oil painting at 16, and was thrilled to receive the award for her work.

“I’m really excited about it. I had always hoped I would get that award,” said Galbreaith. “I’ve been painting for a long time and have worked really hard,” Galbreaith said.

In September, Galbreaith plans to move to Paris with her Parisian fiancé, where she will paint, attend graduate school and improve her French.

Studio art major Katie Rosinski received the Melchers Gray Purchase Award for her work “Housed.” She also received the Anne Elizabeth Collins Award for her work “Façade.”

During an individual study in sculpture last semester, Rosinski created “Housed,” which deals with her specific experiences at home and the floor plans of everywhere she lived, including the UMW dormitories.

“Housed,” is now apart of the university’s permanent exhibition. According to Rosinski, the work has pushed her in a great direction.

“I get so close to these pieces,” said Rosinski. “It is difficult to part with them, but also very exciting since the piece is connected to UMW.”

After receiving both awards, Rosinski said she was speechless and flattered.

“You always have hope, but I wasn’t so presumptuous,” said Rosinski. “For [Cross] to have chosen my pieces is an enormous compliment.”

Rosinski attributes her success to the UMW community where she learned to identify herself through art.

“This department is incredible. It’s small but has given me the chance to get to know my professors and explore different media,” Rosinski said. “Once I came to college, that’s when [art] became serious for me. I feel that art is a way for me to filter life and to understand and attempt to understand what’s around me.”

The Annual Student Art Exhibition in the duPont Gallery is open to the public and will run through Sunday, April 20, where some of the students’ artwork will be for sale.