NATCHITOCHES – Design 1 (Art 1010) students in Northwestern State University’s Department of Fine and Graphic Art created original designs for this semester’s Mazda Art Car design competition to win scholarships awarded by the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts and the Friends of Hanchey organization. Students worked under the instruction of Professors Collier Hyams and Jonathan Clayton.
This year’s winner is “Diamond Pop” by Marley Traub of Rayne, who earned a $500 scholarship. Second place went to Jennifer McKinney of Natchitoches for “Spirit Rider and $300. Third place went to Hannah Tingle of Natchitoches for “DNA” and $100. “Set Your Heart Ablaze” by Winsome Guillory of Goldonna was runner-up.
“My design was intended to be simple yet eye catching,” Traub said. “I chose black and white as the color scheme. I chose a rigid shape but wanted to depict it in a way that flows with the shape of the car. The way the design seems to fracture and piece back together creates a stunning and clean look. which is accentuated with the strong contrast of colors.”
“Each year I enjoy challenging my students to create a series of art car designs based on particular themes,” said Hyams. Who founded the STEAM student art car series in 2012. “We start the semester very hands-on with an instinctual ink and paint on paper approach. We then begin research and discussion on the BMW Art Car Series founded by Hervé Poulain in 1975 with the Alexander Calder BMW 3.0 CSL, followed by works from Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and the complete series.”
A design theme is chosen by Mazda North American Operations, Hyams said.
“For this Mazda RX8 we took inspiration from the phrase ‘Strength of the Human Spirit.’ With this context in mind, the students began creating five original designs each. From the 125 or so resulting images a winner is chosen by Mazda.”
The competition judge was Mike Zagami, program director Mazda Foundation Inc., Irvine, California, Mazda North American Operations.
Information on NSU’s Department of Fine and Graphic Arts can be found at https://www.nsula.edu/art/.
Pictured: Art car winners are, from left, Marley Traub, Jennifer McKinney, Hannah Tingle and Winsome Guillory.
