A feverish dream of horses and rust-peeled men, nude women calm under the paws of small animals, earth made rotund, prints ripe with nightmare – such are the scenes of the Student Art Show, which debuted on Nov. 13 in Founders Gallery. The exhibit runs through Dec. 9 and features a variety of selected works. Figuring among the visions in print and paint, ceramic and sculpture, are themes of politics and violence, unity and fragmentation, love, identity, and, as always, pure aesthetics.

“The small details go unnoticed on their own, but when combined make the piece whole,” said senior Julia Harmon, whose paintings “Elissa” and “Marbles” were featured in the show, “The littlest thing can tie a painting together.”

The event was coordinated by ceramics instructor Charlie Tefft and photography instructor Maia Dery.

“One of the things as a teacher that I enjoy about a show like this is the diversity of work,” said Dery, “It’s always nice to see students employing technical skills and craft in the pursuit of their own vision.”

That vision took many forms, acting as a medium both of intense self-expression and potent social commentary. CCE junior Kathleen Kennedy’s multi-media painting Palin depicted a doleful bulldog watching on as a certain vice-presidential candidate tramples the Statue of Liberty.

Photographs such as Timothy Griffin’s “Battleground” and junior Anne Marie Drolet’s “Panorama” offered a glimpse of Greensboro’s own industrial decay, a realm of heaped trash and abandoned buildings.

After a period of perusal and idle mingling, the crowd assembled around Tefft and Dery for announcement of awards. Tefft expressed feelings of pride and relief in the exhibition, which showcased the products of often-solitary work.

“For the faculty, it’s a really nice time- I’m stuck in the ceramics department, Maia’s stuck in the basement,” Tefft said, to which Dery quickly added “like a troll,” eliciting much laughter and cheer.

Harmon’s “Marbles,” took first place in its category, while junior Ada Stephens’ “Xyrophobia” took first in photography. Junior Nida Khalaf’s “Round Belly” was the champion of the ceramics category.

The crowd uprooted itself and moved to the next room for the announcement of winners in print, sculpture, 3D design and drawing. Senior Amy Keilbaugh took first with her print “Ride Me High,” while senior Justin Arpo’s “Sentient” took first in sculpture.

Senior Faith Joseph’s “Comma” won first in 3D design, and senior Lucy Rowe’s “Contemplation” took first in the final category, drawing. The crowd dispersed again to chat in small groups while artists reveled in their victories.

“It’s like stream of consciousness.colors, shapes, weird, tweaked imagery, creepy, enlarged stuff,” said Keilbaugh of the inspiration behind “Ride Me High.”

Artists and their instructors milled about, chatting casually, sipping water from carafes and eating grapes in anticipation of the Best in Show winner. Occasional bursts of raucous laughter boomed up around the crowd, while Justin Arpo talked with friends about “Sentient.”

“What inspires that in me? No money,” he said, looking at the figure of a man, composed of rusted metal, straining up out of the gallery floor. “I just used whatever scraps were there, so I just twisted them, welded it, and hey, I made a face.”

The crowd hushed, poised for Charlie Tefft’s announcement of Best in Show. A brief interlude of mouth made music and, “Justin Arpo”- an eruption of applause ran through the room, and people slowly began to bid adieu.

The art department will be holding more shows in the spring, the major event being the Senior Thesis Exhibition, which will be student-coordinated.