**For Immediate Release**
Bryon Test Receives Prestigious Award
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 11-30-05
by Laura Dahl
Goodwell, OK - Bryon Test, Chair of
the Art Department at Oklahoma Panhandle State University,
received the Arts and Education Award from Governor Brad
Henry. Test participated in the 30th annual Governor’s Arts Awards yesterday
at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. Sponsored by the
Oklahoma Arts Council, the Arts and Education Award recognizes
professional educators who support and promote arts education
for Oklahoma’s students.
Test graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University
in Weatherford in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and
then returned to his hometown, Guymon, to begin his professional
career as an artist. Test exhibited his wildlife paintings
at festivals and private showings from 1981-1994. He realized
a personal goal of winning a duck stamp competition by
the time he was 30 years old. In 1989, his painting of
two blue-winged teal was chosen for the Florida Waterfowl
Stamp. His career continued to flourish as he was commissioned
by Kansas Ducks Unlimited to create original artwork for
their waterfowl stamp in 1991. In 1994, he started researching
his Cherokee Indian heritage and began producing artwork
with Native American themes.
Test joined the OPSU faculty in 1995
following the tragic, unexpected death of his 13-year-old
daughter. No longer able to hold a paintbrush steady,
he said, “I was
horribly depressed and barely functioning. I pulled all
of my artwork out of the 50 galleries representing me at
the time and planned to be at OPSU only two years.” Instead,
he became an integral part of a newly formed Art Department,
and the healing that occurred has allowed him to become
an even more prolific artist.
Test shares an extraordinary amount
of artistic talent with OPSU students, and also passes
along lessons learned during his own professional career.
Part of the art curriculum includes teaching students
practical skills such as marketing their art, identifying
their patrons and learning how to be comfortable around
them. Test’s experience led
to the development of the Paul Farrell Memorial Art Auction,
a formal event held annually for OPSU art students to apply
what they have learned in the “real” world.
“I am proud to be part of the Art Department and
proud to be a part of OPSU. We’re a harmonious group
and it makes work fun,” Test said. OPSU is proud
to have an artist and teacher of Test’s caliber leading
the OPSU Art Department.
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