Young Murfreesboro and Rutherford County artists’ interpretations of America’s diversified unity are the focus of a special invitational exhibit at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery through Friday, May 29.

The city and county schools students created works of art with a theme of “E Pluribus Unum: From Many, One,” showing how many people, races, cultures and religions come together to create the United States.

Award winners will be announced at a special May 21 reception hosted by Dr. Mark Byrnes, dean of the MTSU College of Liberal Arts.

The Todd Gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and state and university holidays. The awards reception is planned May 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Student artists in both Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools systems compete annually for awards sponsored by the Murfreesboro City Hall Art Committee and displayed in the rotunda at Murfreesboro’s City Hall.

MTSU’s Department of Art is continuing the community art support by displaying the winning works from the school competitions in the Todd Gallery as the “Winners’ Circle” exhibit.

Winners’ Circle art jurors evaluate the winning pieces and name an “MTSU Arts Best of Show Award” as well as a “Circle Best Artwork” for both the city and county schools.

The student Winners’ Circle pieces that best represent criteria such as “most original” or “best interpretive” also are eligible for the “True Blue Award” and first, second, third and honorable mention awards in four age groups.

Like all Todd Art Gallery events, the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

For more information about MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery, including parking and directions, contact gallery director Eric Snyder at 615-898-5532 or eric.snyder@mtsu.edu or visit www.mtsu.edu/art. You also can find a campus parking map at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking14-15.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

“Birch Trees,” an original work of art from an Overall Creek Elementary School student, is part of the third- through fifth-grade “Winners’ Circle” exhibit at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery through May 29.

“The Crayon Box,” an original work of art from a Northfield Elementary School student, is part of the kindergarten through second grade “Winners’ Circle” exhibit at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery through May 29.

This untitled work from an Eagleville High School ninth- to 12th-grader is part of the “Winners’ Circle” exhibit at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery through May 29.