Gender, xenophobia and racism are topics Southeast art students are discussing in their artwork at this year's Annual Juried Art Exhibition taking place at the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum through May 9.

The public and students came to view the artwork and hear the winners of the merit and reserve merit winners at Southeast Missouri State University’s Crisp Museum. Winners who receive a merit award are the first-place winner, while winners who receive a reserved merit award are the second-place winner.

Southeast students presented their artwork for the Annual Juried Student Exhibition’s opening night on April 9.

Associate professor and exhibition coordinator Justin Miller opened the exhibition with a speech announcing the reserve merit and merit award winners in different categories. The categories included color composition/design foundations, 3-D design, graphic design, digital art, photography, ceramics, fibers, printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture and best in show.

This year’s juror was Southeast alum Zack Tucker, who earned his BFA in art from Southeast in 2012. Currently, he is an assistant professor of communication design in the Department of Art at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

As juror, Tucker's responsibilities included deciding the theme and the art that will be on display for the exhibit. Tucker also chose the reserve merit and merit award winners for each category.

Charles Norris is a senior at Southeast who came to view the new exhibit.

“Everything in the exhibit was wonderful; it shows how passionate the students here at Southeast are with their work,” Norris said.

Alum Dianne Rowe who visited the exhibit said when she was a student, the River Campus did not exist.

“I have been away from SEMO for too long,” Rowe said. “The young students here have talent. I am so proud of them. I could not decide which piece was my favorite; they are all so amazing.”

The exhibition is open Monday through Friday until May 9. For more information on upcoming events happening at the River Campus, visit their website.