Leo D. Stillwell used his surroundings to inspire his work and created visual elements for future audiences.

The post world-war II watercolor and oil painter provided San Francisco with some of the most provocative landscapes, portraits and allegorical studies on one of history’s most divisive conflicts. Yet, he was just 22 when he died in 1948.

It’s been over a half a century years since his death, but Stillwell’s prolific artwork continues to breath life at SF State.

On Nov. 13, Stillwell’s original artwork, along chosen work from over 50 undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students, will be on display at the 18th Annual “Stillwell Student Art Show,” an exhibit of photography, textiles, metal arts, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking in SF State’s Fine Arts Gallery.

The event was established by Stillwell’s mother, Josephine, who donated over 500 drawings, memorabilia, letters—and even a home in the Castro district—to SF State in 1989, as a tribute to her son. The university auctioned the home off and created a $10,000 endowment to use for second year graduate students.

The event will be divided into three sections, focusing on undergraduate submissions and work MFA candidates that were selected by a 21-person jury, in addition to a small exhibition to commemorate Stillwell.

“[Artwork] is a window into the culture of people,” said Mark Batongbacal, 23, an art history and painting major. “The best art work is remembered because it reflects culture but at the same time becomes culture.”

Art students enrolled in Museum Studies and Exhibition Design were responsible for choosing the art and repairing the entire gallery.

Batongbacal, who participated in the event in previous semesters, has been preparing for the event as both a juror and student artist since September and can’t wait to see it come together.

“The opening night [of the Stillwell Art Show] is always exciting,” said Batongbacal. “You can feel the buzz in the air. You rarely get that feeling.”

Batongbacal’s piece entitled “Year 20??” is an amalgamation of tiny images and war photographs from old newspapers to create a consummate image of an atomic bomb.

“The Stillwell [showcase] is a great chance to see what’s important to the future image makers of the world, to see their roots,” he said in reference to the largest piece in the exhibit, “Love Floats.”

“[Love Floats] is breath-taking,” Batongbacal said. “Five years from now people will remember this piece.”

Nancy Arms Simon, 39, a faculty member and one of the 21 jurors who helped select “Love Floats”, said that she wanted to stay open-minded, fair and see the merit in all of the work that was submitted for the showcase.

“It’s difficult because all of us have subjectivity when it comes to looking at artwork,” said Simon. “There’s a lot of conversation that has to take place. We try to iron it out and be as fair as we can.”

One of the pieces that will be displayed is “Home Sweet Home”, a four-piece mixed media that Simon says “beautifully crafts and respectfully renders” the image of a mobile home.

“What [the jurors were] trying to do is create a balance between originality and concept,” she said. “We want to find a balance between technique and skill.”

Simon was involved in past Stillwell art shows, installing the artwork in the exhibit and says that the event is an important and everchanging forum.

“Every year it’s just totally different,” said Simon. “You have different students submitting, a whole different class of jurors, changes in the department, changes in the art world and what people are talking about.”

And student artists like Batongbacal agree.

“The Stillwell [showcase] is a great chance to see what’s important to the future image makers of the world, to see their roots,” Batongbacal said.

For more information please visit http://www.gallery.sfsu.edu/