News and Media

Published: Dec 16, 2010

ATLANTA-Savannah College of Art and Design alumni continue to proudly represent the university as Gyun Hur (M.F.A., sculpture, 2009) was announced as the 2010 Hudgens Prize recipient on Nov. 30.  The $50,000 cash prize comes with the opportunity to host a solo exhibition in December 2011 at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth, Georgia.

Hur's piece in the finalists exhibition, "She Prays Happiness," is described in the center's press release as "a complex installation of bright stripes from both deconstructed silk flower elements and paint, with an accompanying photograph."

In outlining the process she used to create this award-winning work, Hur shared how she, and a select community of people around her, carefully disassembled and hand-shredded the delicate silk flowers.  The pattern produced by this labor-intensive installation references the artist's mother's wedding blanket, beckoning memories of the past and inherent ephemeral comfort.

The distinguished jurors, David Kiehl, curator of prints at the Whitney Museum of American Art; Sylvie Fortin, editor-in-chief for ART PAPERS; and Eungie Joo, Keith Haring director and curator of education and public programs at The New Museum, all visited the finalists exhibition earlier on the day of judging to view the exhibit and participate in the deliberations in person.

"Today, we come together to celebrate our community by recognizing the contributions of five contemporary artists," said Fortin.  "It is also the first time we award a Georgia artist a prize that has the real potential to be transformative."

Other finalists for the award included fellow Georgia artists Ruth Dusseault of Atlanta, Hope Hilton of Winterville, and Scott Ingram and Jiha Moon of Atlanta.

Hur's surprise and satisfaction are aptly summed up in what she recently wrote on her blog, "Wow. Just wow…I deeply respect my fellow competitors  . . . and I'm so grateful and honored." Hur completed a Master in Fine Arts degree at SCAD Atlanta in 2009.

Her award-winning exhibition, along with those of the other finalists, is on display until Feb. 19 at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Bldg. 300, Duluth, Georgia, within the Gwinnett Center complex.
 
The Hudgens Center for the Arts showcases a range of artwork in its galleries throughout the year, highlighting a wide variety of media, from paintings, drawings and prints to pottery and sculpture. During the month of December, the center is offering free admission to the public in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season.