EOU Students Shine in Annual Art Show

EOU Students Shine in Annual Art Show

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Nightingale Gallery of Eastern Oregon University will close out our 2024-25 exhibition season with our annual celebration of student artists. The annual All-Campus Juried Student Exhibition will run May 16 through June 13.  There will be an opening reception Friday, May 16, 5 to 7 p.m., with a presentation of awards at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit features work by EOU students from a variety of disciplines.  

Our juror this year is Ryan Kitson. Kitson was born in Mountain View, California, in 1977. He attended Southern Oregon University in the late 90s before moving to New York City to pursue a career in the fine arts. He holds a Master’s degree in Visual Culture from PNCA and has exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Berlin, Vienna, London, Milan, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Marfa, Texas. Kitson currently resides in Baker City.

Kitson will present a public talk on his studio practice on Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. in Huber Auditorium, Badgley Hall. The presentation is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

In addition to selecting works to include in the exhibit, Kitson will select several works to be recognized with monetary awards.  In addition to the juror’s awards, there will be the presentation of the fifteenth annual Kathleen Galloway Memorial Scholarship and the sixteenth annual presentation of the Joseph Dickerson Memorial Award. 

The Kathleen Galloway Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award presented to a sophomore or junior-level Art major with exemplary technical and conceptual skills. The award is made in memory of Kathleen Galloway, a professor of Printmaking and Drawing at EOU. Galloway, who passed away suddenly in December of 2009, was a highly dedicated and much-loved artist, teacher, and colleague. She was a passionate advocate for her students, art, artists, and EOU. She lived to share knowledge and the wonder that comes with discovery. Galloway exemplified the excellence to which we encourage our students to endeavor. 

The Joseph Dickerson Memorial Award is in memory of Joe Dickerson, an EOU freshman tragically killed in a 2009 auto accident. Following the loss of their son, Joe’s parents, Doug and Kyla Dickerson, made a gift to the EOU Art program to create an annual scholarship award for EOU students. Joe was a model student whose creative energy and enthusiasm for learning were infectious. In light of this, the EOU Art Program chose to use the funds so generously given by the Dickerson family to endow an award in their son’s name to be presented annually to a student who the Art faculty feels best exemplifies Joe’s dedication, curiosity, and creative spirit. 

All awards will be announced at the reception at 5:30 p.m. on May 16. Please join us in celebrating the creativity of EOU students.

The Nightingale Gallery is located in the Loso Hall on the campus of Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR.  Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..  For more information, follow the Nightingale Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.
To request images of artwork for publication or to schedule an interview with one or more of the artists, please contact Gallery Director Cory Peeke at cpeeke@eou.edu.