Stephen F. Austin State University

Artists who enter their work in competitions never know exactly what will catch the judge's eye.

With that in mind, Laura Robertson, a graduate student at Stephen F. Austin State University, decided to "send everything" to the University of Dallas Regional Juried Ceramics Competition. To her surprise, the piece that received "honorable mention" is one that she least expected to be noticed.

"It was a piece I made last summer while I was experimenting with clay dust, affixing it to a board," Robertson said. "It was essentially a painting created with clay dust."

Robertson said she works with clay in various "states of flux."

"Sometimes I use video in my exhibitions," she said. "That is one way to show ceramics changing, evolving, and eroding. It is interesting to show the life cycle during an exhibition. Video is a way to capture clay while it is alive."

The clay an artist sees in the studio is different than the finished product people see at an exhibition, Robertson said. She said she has explored ways to help those who view her art see the different parts of the process.

Another SFA graduate student, Adan Saenz, and Dawn Chatoney, who graduated from SFA last year, also were represented in the show.

Chatoney was awarded an honorable mention.

Piero Fenci, professor in the SFA School of Art, said representation in the show was "a big deal for these students." "Laura is blurring the boundary between ceramics and video," he said. "She is combining one of the oldest forms of art with one of the newest."

Robertson said she loves working with clay and finds the science of firing ceramics interesting.
"In ceramics, you work as a community," she said. "You interact with one another, and that is something I like about it."

Robertson said she was "shocked" when her work was chosen for the show.

"I was so excited," she said. "This is the most important show I've ever been in. The juror is so well known ... it's flattering to know he picked my work. It's also wonderful to have my work exhibited with people whose work I respect."

Robertson and Saenz will exhibit their work locally beginning April 30 in the Art Building. The gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located off of Wilson Drive near the Arboretum.