NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

2/12/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - A work by Northwestern State University Professor of Art Michael Yankowski was awarded first prize at the 20" by 20" by 20" Compact Competition at LSU in Baton Rouge.

Yankowski was honored for his work "Cett Un Rev Construite." Pieces in the competition are required to fit within a 20-inch by 20-inch measurement. This year's juror was David Rubin, curator of contemporary art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. A total of 133 artists from across the United States submitted 378 works. Rubin selected 44 artists to exhibit 72 works. Three works by Yankowski were selected for the competition.

According to Yankowski, the winning work was inspired by the surrealist artist Manray.

"I saw a video on Manray that showed how he worked and lived and found it very interesting," said Yankowski. "His studio was a place with so many things going on."

Yankowski created "Cett Un Rev Construite" two years ago.

"It has a complicated environment with a lot of things happening and is a surreal work," he said.

In creating his works, Yankowski often uses everyday items in new ways. In "Cett Un Rev Construite," he took old oak picture frames and cut them into strips, which are part of the piece.

The 20" by 20" by 20" Compact Competition exhibit will be on display at the LSU Union Gallery Feb. 23-March 23.

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