40th Annual Stilwell Exhibition: USD’s Art Scene 

     Amid record-low temperatures, many students, faculty and community members gathered on Jan. 23 for the 40th Annual Stilwell Student Awards Exhibition. For the University of South Dakota Art Galleries, this is the most-awaited exhibition of the year. 

     With hundreds of works submitted for review, juror Karin Campbell, Phil Wilson Curator of Contemporary Art at the Joslyn Art Museum, selected around 94 pieces for display in the exhibit. Amongst the different pieces, one would be recognized as the winner and the student would receive a $500 award. 

     According to Campbell, choosing a piece was difficult, but in the end, she decided to recognize Shirin Jafarizadeh for her video about personal identity.  

     “Although there were subtle movements and facial expressions in the video, they were very powerful,” Campbell said.  

     She explained how the video portrayed different layers of identity and even feminism.  

     After receiving the award, Jafarizadeh shared some of the meaning behind her video. 

     “[It was about] going inside my consciousness more and trying to face the shadow inside,” Jafarizadeh said. “It’s about all the twisted or darker parts about identity that cannot be seen by others but exist within all of us.”  

     The theme of identity was evident throughout the exhibition, from portrayals of gender-role conflicts to political views. Every piece of art conveyed the artist’s awareness of the outside world and their resistance or opposition to societal views. 

     For some student artists, this was their first public exhibition.  

     “There is going to be self-doubt, but you have to work through it because it always pays off,” Gallery Director Amy Fill said.  

     The exhibition is free and open to the public until February 19. It stands as a testament to the dreams and dedication of student artists, encouraging visitors to brave the cold and see the work firsthand.