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Dr. Klint Pleasant revealed himself as a Pearl Jam fan in presenting his first President’s Choice to Eau Claire’s Arly Fitzgerald’s oil painting April 28 at the SMC Student Art Show Award Ceremony.

Pleasant quipped that he was tempted to boycott the proceedings in solidarity with frontman Eddie Vedder.

Vedder holds a dim view of judging art, particularly competitions, awards or rankings. Art is subjective, for expression and connection — not competition — Vedder said at the 38^th Grammys on Feb. 28, 1996.

Pleasant said the art and history galleries have quickly become his two favorite spaces on campus.

“I’m an artist,” Pleasant said. “I make oil canvases and lamps out of recycled wine bottles. I am a huge Pearl Jam fan and have followed them around the country. I wanted to boycott this in a neat way because I loved every piece. I went around, and I went around again, but one kept drawing me in. I like it so much I want to find a way to buy it.”

The Peer Choice Award, determined by popular voting, went to a charcoal drawing by Isabella Wier of Niles.

Fitzgerald, who was homeschooled, painted an image she found online, mesmerized by the lighting in a stairwell.

“I love orange and blue together like that,” the general studies major said. “My sister (Macy) came here and absolutely loved it, and it’s close to home, so I could stay at home and save. I graduate (May 9), then I’m moving up to Kalamazoo. I really love art, but I really love history, so I’m kind of stuck on what to focus on. I know art’s going to be involved in my future. I’m undecided. I love the environment and am thinking of doing something with that.”

“I’m so excited” that her painting spoke to President Pleasant. “That’s so amazing, that out of all these incredible things he saw mine. That’s wonderful! And I am a Pearl Jam fan.”

Wier’s charcoal drawing pays homage to her favorite TV show, Peaky Blinders, a British crime drama set in post-World War I Birmingham. It focuses on the Shelby crime family led by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).

The Netflix series aired from 2013-22 and follows their rise from a local street gang notorious for sewing razor blades into their caps to a powerful criminal organization.

Her 1920s ensemble provided a clue to another aspect of her passion in art — fashion.

Foundations (2D/3D)

• First place: Ethan Gorman
• Judge's Merit: Aidan Gesellschap and Kingston Rice

Drawing

• First place: Kaleb Mccombs
• Judge's Merit: Hayden Arnosky and Isabella Wier

Graphic Design

• First place: Christian Anderson
• Judge's Merit: Hannah Mannoia and Kaylee Seabolt

Painting

• First place: Aarika Morse
• Judge's Merit: Casey Cadwell and Sammy Linn

Photography

• First place: Hayden Arnosky
• Judge's Merit: Echo Kuipers and Kaiden Black

President's Choice Award

• Arly Fitzgerald

Peer Choice Award

• Isabella Wier