More than 180 paintings, photographs, sculptures and other works of art in the "On Our Own Time" exhibit showcase the artistic talents of UA employees, their immediate family members, volunteers and retirees.
The annual exhibit, now in its ninth year, opened on Jan. 28 in the lobby of the Bioscience Research Laboratories building, 1230 N. Cherry Ave., and will run through Feb. 9.
This year's winning entries, as determined by a panel of judges, are listed below. There also are People's Choice Awards, which were announced at an artists' reception on Feb. 9.
The exhibit is organized by the UA Employee Recognition Committee and sponsored by the National Arts Program, which provides organizations with at least 3,500 employees resources to showcase employees' artistic abilities. More than $3,400 will be given in cash prizes to the winners in the categories of amateur, intermediate, professional, youth and teen.
Pamela Wagner, an administrative associate in the UA RISE Health and Wellness Center, is serving as coordinator of the event for the second year in a row.
"I love meeting the artists and seeing their passion for expression come to life," Wagner said. "I feel that the 'On Our Own Time' exhibit brings all of us a bit closer together to create a more positive community."
Best In Show
"Small Talk" by Ruslan Rafikov, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine
Art Education Award
"Water Glass" by Winona Esher, family of Melanie Esher-Blair, senior program coordinator at the UA Center for Integrative Medicine
People's Choice Awards
- "Pondering Cow" by Norma Trujillo, family of Michael Trujillo, pre-award manager in Sponsored Projects and Contracting Services in the Office of Research, Discovery and Innovation
- "Why Can't No Mean No" by Hailey Koellisch, family of Valerie Koellisch, administrative associate in the Department of Family and Community Medicine
Youth (ages 12 and younger)
- First place: "Crabby Sally" by Erik Quintero, family of Cindy Trejo, grant writer in Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
- Second place: "The Night Horse" by Ana Castro, family of Kelley Merriam-Castro, senior program coordinator in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Graduate Interdisciplinary Program
- Third place: "Sonoran Desert" by Simone Smith, family of Shelley Smith, senior program coordinator in the Graduate College
Teen (ages 13-18)
- First place: "Gray Skies" by Nadira Mitchell, family of Agnes Attakai, director of health disparities outreach and prevention education in the Center for Health Equality at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
- Second place: "Beauty in Odd Places" by Estevan Valenzuela, family of Laura Davalos, library information associate in Delivery, Description and Acquisitions at University Libraries
- Third place: "Lover's Rock" by Grace Merritt, family of Todd Merritt, principal information technology manager in University Information Technology Services
Amateur (entrants with little or no experience)
- First place: "Busy" by Hannah Hernandez, family of Jennifer Laczny, research technician in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Second place: "Bloom Where You're Planted" by Lindsey Cushman, program coordinator in the Department of Nutritional Sciences
- Third place: "Snowdogs" by Jenny Downing, family of Frank Whitehead, senior program coordinator in the School of International Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Intermediate (entrants with some experience)
- First place: "Himmel Park" by Michael Tearne, coordinator of Master of Science and doctoral certificate programs in the Zuckerman College of Public Health
- Second place: "Pima Indian Baskets" by Kay Ross, director of graduate programs and academic affairs in the Department of Finance
- Third place: "Bighorn Sheep" by Bruce Russell, senior program coordinator in the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science
Professional
- First place: "Mother Nopal" by Ruben Urrea Moreno, senior exhibit specialist at the Arizona State Museum
- Second place: "Honor: Life and Death (Puma Skull)" by Jennie Norris, graphic designer in Facilities Management
- Third place: "Monsoon Playground" by Yvonne Hazelton, family of Ed Nezelek, program coordinator for Arizona Student Unions
Honorable mentions
- "Hooshdódii (Raised Outline Design Rug)" by Christian Brown, coordinator of clinical research for the All of Us Research Program at the College of Medicine – Phoenix
- "Pondering Cow" by Norma Trujillo, family of Michael Trujillo, pre-award manager in Sponsored Projects and Contracting Services in the Office of Research, Discovery and Innovation
- "Why Can't No Mean No" by Hailey Koellisch, family of Valerie Koellisch, administrative associate in the Department of Family and Community Medicine
- "Gul" by Varvara Zemskova, family of Evgeny Zemskov, research assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson
- "Memories of India" by Michele Vaughan, senior program coordinator in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- "Happiness" by Victoria Escamilla, family of Sonya Lopez-Escamilla, senior accounting assistant, UITS
- "Poppy Flower for Veteran's Remembrance" by Vincent Villalobos, family of Marcel Villalobos, assistant director of post-award services in Sponsored Projects and Contracting Services in the Office of Research, Discovery and Innovation
- "Bird House Border" by Sophia Todd, family of Michaela Todd, administrative assistant in the Department of Pediatrics
- "Innocence" by Jacqueline Brailey, retired assistant staff scientist in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- "Timeless" by Kathryn Johnson, senior office assistant in Parking & Transportation Services