Three New Pieces Added to Prairie State Board of Trustees Student Art Collection

The Prairie State College (PSC) Board of Trustees recently added three student art works to the Student Art Collection. The pieces were chosen from the May 2011 Graduating Student Exhibit and the 28^th Annual Exhibition of Photographer of the Year in fall 2011.

The pieces selected were “Absence of a Memory,” a painting by William Matthews III, of Matteson; “Drip,” a photograph by Michael Carr, of Lansing; and “Whole in the wall hole,” a photograph by Sherryl Smith, of Park Forest.

Smith, who also was this year’s featured Photographer of the Year, said her interest in photography started at a young age. “I loved how photos told stories, and images explained things to me that words were never able to do,” she said. “I could experience pain, joy, and sorrow, all from one paragraph.”

Established in September 2008 by the Board of Trustees, the collection features student artwork, and is exhibited in prominent places throughout campus. The collection now includes 19 pieces of art.

Art Professor Paul Rinaldi said, "We are very proud of the high level work our students are creating here at PSC. The new photographs and painting are a testament to

these students' creativity and personal vision.”

“The Board of Trustees collection provides a wonderful opportunity for the college to collect and display such powerful works, contributing in a major way to the cultural presence in our community,” he added.