College of Western Idaho (CWI) Studio Art students and faculty left their mark at the 36th Annual Nampa Festival of the Arts at Lakeview Park as they judged the event’s Juried Arts Competition!
Associate Professor of Art, Goran Fazil, along with five students, observed many different art pieces, chatted with the artists, and asked them questions, such as how the piece was made, what methods were used, and what their inspiration was. The judges evaluated a diverse range of art forms, from sculptures to paintings, pottery to metalwork, and more!
After visiting each artist and their piece, the students and Fazil convened and discussed which five of the entries would be awarded grand prize, gold, silver, bronze, and runner-up. The judges said they looked for originality and innovation in each piece.
"The students get to think about the different concepts and ideas they learn in class and apply them," said Fazil. "An interesting thing about the pieces is they are all different types of media and techniques. The students get to talk to artists and get an understanding of the different processes. They also get to understand how competitive these juried events are and what sets certain works aside from others. "
CWI has been teaming up with the Nampa Festival of the Arts to judge the Juried Arts Competition since 2012. The Nampa Parks and Recreation Department, which organizes the Festival each year, says they appreciate the partnership and commitment from the students and Fazil who take the time to share their expertise and knowledge with the community.
“It’s nice to have individuals who are not only interested in learning about the arts, but also budding artists themselves available to give their opinion and most accurately judge what makes a good piece of art,” said Diego Estrada, the City of Nampa Recreation Programs Coordinator.
Beginning in 1986, the Nampa Festival of the Arts at Lakeview Park is a longstanding event created by the Nampa Parks and Recreation Department and the Nampa Art Guild to present an opportunity for local artists to showcase and sell their art. About 200 artists take part in the Festival each year, drawing more than 18,000 community members from around the Treasure Valley.
