About 1,000 students at the University of North Florida are enrolled each semester in art classes. About 400 students have declared art as their major course of study in fine arts, graphic design and digital media or art history.
The annual UNF Juried Student Art Exhibition showcases the work of those students.
The 2013 edition opened Thursday Downtown at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Seventy pieces are exhibited this year including paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, ceramics and photography.
Debra Murphy, chair of the university's Department of Art & Design, said students submitted more than 350 works for consideration.
"We're a well-rounded department," she said.
Selection of the pieces shown this year was based on understanding of the medium, technical competency and exploration of subject matter and medium. The work was evaluated and selected by jurists Laurie Hitzig and Larry Wilson.
Murphy said this is the first year students submitted their work in the form of a digital file as opposed to the actual painting, sculpture or other art form.
"That's how you submit now to juried shows," she said, because submitting digitally eliminates the cost of framing the art if it is not selected for the show.
Murphy said she hopes the exhibition will enlarge the audience and support for the museum, which is a cultural resource of the university.
"We think the exhibition will bring people to MOCA who may never have been to the museum," she said.
The exhibit will be displayed in the UNF Gallery through Feb. 24.
For museum hours and membership information, visit mocajacksonville.org.
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