Former intern takes top prize

Hamilton, OH - If the winning art looked familiar, there's a reason.

In fact, the winning artist spent time working in the very gallery where the aforementioned winning art now hangs.

Former Fitton Center intern Riley Benoit took best-in-show honors May 17 during the opening reception for the Students Today Artists Tomorrow exhibition by the Humanities and Creative Arts department of Miami University Regionals.

The juried exhibition highlights the best work produced through different Miami art classes in a wide array of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture and digital arts. Benoit's winning artwork featured a progression of three charcoal-drawn self-portraits merged into one poster-sized piece called "Growning Up."

She took home a(n intentionally ugly) hand-crafted trophy capped with a golden dinosaur chomping on a faux diamond - created by instructor and exhibition curator Jennifer Purdum - for her efforts.

The exhibition will be on view in the Community Gallery through July 2. Fitton Center galleries are always free and open to the public. Hours are 10-6 Monday-Thursday and 10-5 Friday.