Central High School students put work on display at Crowe Gallery

Senior art students at Cape Girardeau Central High School will get one final lesson before they graduate in the coming weeks.

Thirty-five seniors will showcase artwork from their high school career during a First Friday exhibit at the Crowe Gallery. The students will learn how to put together an art show by setting up the exhibit, which includes more than 200 pieces.

"They get a taste, and that's a plus," said Judy Barks-Westrich, one of the art teachers overseeing the exhibition.

Sculptures, paintings and drawings from the students' art education will be on display. Students chose their pieces, which were mostly works matted as part of advanced courses, Barks-Westrich said.

Lauren Bishop said she will have about 15 pieces in the show, including a couple of self-portraits.

"Even if it's not fantastic, somebody else might like it," she said of her show pieces. "This is our time to shine."

As the students get the high school spotlight one last time, many are preparing to pursue a variety of careers in art, including art therapy, architecture and for Bishop, graphic design.

She studies graphic design for three of her five hours of art every day at school. Bishop will attend Missouri State University and after college she said she is open to all possibilities within the field.

"Anything sounds interesting to me as long as I get to be creative," she said.

Courtney Fitzpatrick's favorite piece in the exhibit is a vertical abstract painting of blended and dripping colors. Painting, she said, is one of her favorite mediums.

"I always make canvases at home," she said.

Fitzpatrick said she will take a year off to work full-time and save for college. She hopes to go into art education and open a coffee shop.

"I really enjoy the arts, obviously," she said. "It'd be a fun job for me."

There will be an opening reception Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Crowe Gallery. The gallery will also be open from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

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