A novel by Stephen King inspired the first place winner in the People’s Choice Art Exhibit at the SIUC University Museum, an SIUC student artist says.

Detta Walker, a character in the novel The Dark Tower by King is the subject of the acrylic paint on glass artwork done by Roger Redeford.

I read one of his (King’s) series, the Dark Tower,’ Redeford said. One of the characters is Odetta Walker. Her split personality is Detta Walker. She (Detta Walker) was pretty mean.

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I had the image (of Walker) in my head, he said. You can see your reflection which forms duality. It’s more of an expressive gestural painting.

Redeford said he has been working with art most of his life.

(I’ve been doing art) since I can remember, he said. I didn’t get into painting until I got here.

The artwork, in Mitchell gallery at the University Museum was judged by the public through a ballot system. Judging began on Nov. 3 and ran until Dec. 1. A reception was held on Dec. 1, announcing the winners.

To be entered in the exhibt the artwork had to be done by a SIUC student and also two-dimensional in design.

For his first place award Redeford received $80 and a gift certificate to the Student Center Bookstore.

The second place winner in the exhibit was Gail Elwell, a second year graduate student working on her Master’s in Fine Arts with a specialization in fibers. Elwell won with her artwork of handmade paper which she wrote on and transferred photographic images of herself and her sister. Underneath the art is a litany piece about how she and her sister grew up and then grew apart. The relationship between Elwell and her sister is what inspired the winning piece.

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My relationship with my sister and the way it changed inspired the piece, she said. I’m working on a whole series about my childhood and memories I have. This is the first of several about images of my childhood.

Elwell said the piece she is currently working on centers around a re-occurring dream she had during childhood about atomic bombs falling.

Elwell said working with art has been a main focus of her life.

I’ve always drawn and painted, she said. I got my B.S.A. 20 years ago at the University of Wisconsin. I worked, then decided to come back to school.

Elwell said she was surprised she received second place in the exhibit.

I was quite pleased because I didn’t vote for myself. I forgot, she said. It is important as a practicing artist to do what you can.

Elwell received $55 for her award.

Gail Schmoller received third place for her pastel drawing of a reclining nude. The piece, Schmoller said, was done in a drawing class.

It was done from a life drawing class over the summer from a model, Schmoller said.

Schmoller said she was shocked to receive the third place award in the show.

Actually I was kind of surprised, she said. I didn’t really expect it.

Schmoller, who is in her second year of a M.S.A. program in painting, said she has been taking art-related classes for five years. She received $30 for the award.

The exhibit was sponsored by the Museum Student Group.