See the year's best UM-Flint student artwork in this virtual exhibition

The University of Michigan-Flint Department of Art & Art History's annual Student Art Exhibition, which normally takes place at the Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery, continues online for 2021. The virtual gallery featuring more than 200 student art pieces launches May 7 at 4 p.m. ET at http://go.umflint.edu/2021VirtualGallery.

The top five pieces from each art course offered throughout the 2020-21 academic year are selected for display in the exhibition. Ranging from ceramics, painting, photography, animation, printmaking and more, the selections represent the breadth of artistic disciplines students pursue at UM-Flint.

Selections are reviewed by an independent juror and are eligible for a number of awards, including overall recognition such as Best in Show and discipline-specific recognition. Additional awards consider students' overall activities from the academic year, such as the Outstanding Civic Engagement and Overall Achievement in Visual Arts awards. The juror for 2021 is Ellen Kleckner, an artist and educator based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her artistic practice weaves together community engagement, material investigation, and collaboration. Kleckner will give an artist talk and host the live awards ceremony to launch the exhibition at 4 p.m. on May 7.

Associate Professor of Art & Design Ben Gaydos believes that continuing with the exhibition while remaining socially distanced is crucial for UM-Flint's community of artists. Continuing the exhibition online provides an opportunity for even more people to see the creative work that occurs in Flint.

"Art challenges, connects us, and heals, and it's crucial now more than ever. The perseverance of creativity from our students in Flint — especially in light of the challenges we have faced over the last year — is humbling and inspiring."