Westminster Student Photo in Area Art Show

Ryan Mistovich, a junior interdisciplinary major at Westminster College, recently had his photo accepted for the 68th "Area Artist Annual Exhibition Listing" at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.

 The show, which runs through Nov. 28, features a photo Mistovich took of a shelf mushroom while getting used to his new Canon Rebel 35 mm camera for his class with Peggy Cox, professor of art at Westminster College.

 "The museum usually brings in a well-known art critic or artist to select the works for the exhibit," Cox said.  "Competition for a spot in the exhibit can be upwards of two hundred entries or more."

 Mistovich has no plans to become an artist or photographer, however.

 "First I wanted to be a doctor, but then I started looking at other options.  I want to go to dental school, but I never wanted to be a biology major," Mistovich said.  "Here [at Westminster] I can take enough science courses to get into dental school without being a biology major.  I've been playing an instrument since I was in fifth grade, and I've been taking photos for a long time, so I chose to make my own major of music and art.  It's what I enjoy, and I can still get into the graduate school I need to become a dentist."

 Mistovich gets his artistic talent from his parents, who are both art teachers. 

 "Both my dad and brother are in this show, too," Mistovich said.  "My brother has a photo, and my dad has this three-dimensional mixed media entry in the exhibit."

Mistovich is a son of Ron and Joyce Mistovich, Boardman, Ohio, and graduate of Boardman High School.

 For more information, contact Cox at (724) 946-7266 or e-mail pcox@westminster.edu.