In an effort to raise money and awareness about heart disease, three Art students collaborated on a sculpture that won big awards at the Baltimore Chapter of the American Heart Association's annual contest.

"The competition called for a work inspired by the heart so we chose the most obvious representation and presented it in sculptural form," says Lee Oliver '08. "The two-piece design was influenced by a sculpture in front of Baltimore's Penn Station."

Among 32 entries, the collaboration between Oliver, Alexandra Gargon '07 and Chloe Watson '07 won first place at the Art for the Heart competition, held Feb. 9 in Baltimore.

“When you paint, you’re putting yourself on the canvas: your thoughts, your questions, your pain and joy,” says Gargon. “It is an extension of yourself for everyone to see. So when the work is held in high regard, it feels amazing.”

Assistant Professor of Art and Art History Steven Pearson advised the students.

"The finished project is a strong synthesis of their individual creative identities," says Pearson. "They each brought in ideas from their own work, but balanced them nicely for a cohesive collaboration."

With streaks of red and fuchsia dripping over the sides of the abstract four-sided sculpture, the piece reflects Gargon's abstractions, Oliver's eye for bright and brilliant color and Watson's passion for form in sculpture.

"My favorite part was when we really got into working on the heart," says Watson. "When you stay in the studio for several hours and are so focused on what you're doing and then step back and look at the results, it's very rewarding."

The students' winning work was auctioned off at the Baltimore Heart Ball Feb. 24.