A major crowd gathered around the Fine Arts patio outside the Art Gallery the night of April 28 to honor award winners and celebrate the opening of the student art gallery.

The art gallery will be open and available to all students until May 15.

The award winners from ceramics, graphic and digital design, 3D modeling and photography all received a check along with their award and a catalogue of the gallery featuring every student artists’ work.

First place photography and faculty award winner, Lisset Verdin said, “I am beyond happy and surprised to win these awards,”

She added that her inspiration comes from, “My family. I see the beauty in life and [I like] finding the beauty in everything.”

For the future, Verdin plans to continue in school and said she will never put down her camera.

Director and Curator for the Art Gallery James MacDevitt, said that there was $5,000 in awards given out that night.

135 pieces are featured in the art gallery in the Fine Arts building.

The jurist for the gallery was Marie Thibeault, a painting professor at California State University Long Beach.

MacDevitt said, “Student works are nominated by selected faculty. If you’re in here its because you’re good.”

A visitor to the gallery that night shared some of his thoughts.

Cesar Rocha, Art Major, said his favorite piece was “Smell of Death” by Yuver Valencia. It is a ink on paper piece that features a large skull that contrasts with a flower on the other side.

Rocha said, “The reflective details of the skull stood out to me since it’s all painted with ink.”

Rocha was there with his friends to check out the student artists’ work.