Spring 2024 Latzer Art Award Announced at LCC

Labette Community College (LCC) Hendershot Gallery Committee has selected a winner for the prestigious John and Bonnie Latzer Student Art Award for the Spring 2024 semester. The winning artwork is a captivating digital painting entitled “River Monster” by Madison (MJ) Jones, a freshman graphic design major from Oswego.  

Jones employed a range of digital paint and brush tools within Photoshop to bring "River Monster" to life. Reflecting on the creative process, Jones remarked, "I used a split screen so I could look between the reference material and my canvas. I learned to use settings to make the brush feel like it had actual paint on it to create the textures." 

Emphasizing the invaluable learning experiences at LCC, Jones expressed gratitude for the guidance received thus far stating, "I’ve had an amazing experience this year. I’m learning so much from my professor, Melissa Kipp, and could not ask for a better teacher." 

Established at the Parsons Area Community Foundation, the Latzer Art Award recognizes exemplary achievement by students in Fine Arts and Graphic Design at LCC. As the recipient of this esteemed award, Jones will be awarded a $500 scholarship to assist with tuition, fees, and/or books next semester. 

According to Kipp, who directs the Graphic Design Technology department, "The LCC Student Art Exhibition showcases remarkable work from our students, and MJ’s digital painting stands out for its exceptional skill and artistic prowess, making it a fitting choice for the Latzer Award."  

Jones’ winning artwork will be kept in the permanent art collection at LCC. 

In addition to the Latzer Award, the Gallery Committee presented certificates of recognition to the following "Best in Category" recipients: 

• Best in 3D Design: “Wedding Shoe,” by Amy Reynolds 
• Best in Drawing: “Complex Negative Space,” by Madalynn Houston 
• Best in Ceramics: “16” Coil Pot,” by Ashlyn Hicks 
• Best in Photo Editing: “Digital Painting,” by Marriah Wade 
• Best in Digital Illustration: “Night Time,” by Roman Hurlbert 
• Best in Portfolio Review: “Portfolio Website,” by Claire Bradshaw 
• Best in Page Layout: “Book Cover Mockup,” by Isaiah Fox 

For more information about the Graphic Design Technology program, please contact Kipp at melissak@labette.edu or for information about the Latzer Art Award, please contact Lindi Forbes, Executive Director of the LCC Foundation, at lindif@labette.edu.