More than 360 pieces of art are now on display in the J.W. Martin Library at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Alva for the 17th annual NWOSU Art Society Art Show that will remain open to the public until March 27 during the library's regular business hours.

The library will be closed during Spring Break March 16-18 but will be open that week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 19-20 and will open again for regular hours at 1 p.m. on March 22.

A wide variety of art is on display from current students and employees, retired employees and alumni including paintings, drawings, photographs and crocheted items.

The club also offered a special category to depict "food" in any medium the art show has a category for. Each food entry was required to provide a non-perishable food item that would benefit the Campus Cabinet food pantry at Northwestern.

A box for additional non-perishable food items is available in the library next to the food art display, and the art society members welcome all visitors to the show to consider bringing items to donate to the food pantry.

"This seems like a really big show this year, and it may be one of our largest," Angelia Case, art society sponsor, said. "We borrowed a few panels from the Runnymede to go with ours so we would have enough display space for all the entries."

This year, 35 of 42 registered Northwestern students entered 204 items for the show along with 16 non-students bringing in 160 pieces.

"I love to see the entries come in each year because we never know what we'll end up with," Case said. "It's always a happy surprise on entry deadline day. Then we get to see all the wonderful artwork delivered to the library for us to get the show ready for the public. We hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do."

All artwork that earns an award in this show will be moved to the Winners' Show that will take place in downtown Alva during the First Friday Art Walk April 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Runnymede.

Non-placing art from the campus show should be picked up at the library on Monday, March 30, by 5:30 p.m. Artwork from the Winners' Show at the Runnymede may be picked up at the end of that show at 8 p.m. or from Ryerson Hall 211 on Monday, April 6, by 5:30 p.m.

"The Art Society doesn't have many members, but the group works hard on fundraising throughout the year with our Photos with Santa event and Goodie Giveaways at basketball games so we can provide this opportunity for our Ranger family to showcase their talents," Case said. "We also appreciate the support of the Student Government Association for its co-sponsorship of the show."

For additional information about the art show or the art society, visit the NAS website at http://www.nwosu.edu/art, join the club's Facebook group or fan page or contact Case at [email protected] or 580-327-8577. For more information on classes within the Visual Arts program, please contact Kyle Larson, assistant professor of art, at 580-327-8108 or [email protected].