The NCAA Convention is scheduled this week in Washington, D.C., and attendees will have an opportunity to view various pieces of art done by 20 student-athletes from across the country.

Among them is VCU senior Tim Rusterholz, a sculpture major and member of the Rams’ track and field/cross country teams. Rusterholz is one of 13 student-athlete-artists whose work was also chosen to appear on the pages of the NCAA’s Champion magazine, which is due out this week.

Rusterholz delivered his work to Washington over the weekend and was told about 3,000 people are expected to view the exhibit at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center.

“Just getting your work out anywhere is really important,” Rusterholz said. “If you don’t start making connections and letting people see what you have, you are not going to do anything.”

VCU’s sculpture program is the best of its kind in the country according to U.S. News and World Report. Rusterholz is among the cream of the crop. He carries a 3.98 grade point average.

The piece he delivered to the show is a political statement. Made of wood and plastic, it is two life-size figures on wooden stands. One is an American holding a sign for change. The other is a Kenyan tribesman holding up a sign that translates to “the work continues.”

“It’s playing off my personal relationships with people from other countries and the current political things going on now, relevant things going on now.”

— The information above was provided by Mike Harris at VCU.