Exhibition draws together art from area high school students

A standing-room-only crowd filled the atrium at the River Campus on Sunday to laud high school students from across the region for their artistic achievements in the 36th annual High School Art Exhibition.

High school juniors and seniors enter their work in sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, mixed media, photography, fibers, drawing and painting. Each art teacher may submit 15 entries, which this year were juried by Jennifer Kennedy, a former visiting professor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.

First, second and third places and honorable mentions were awarded in each of the categories.

More than 300 pieces were submitted, and more than 100 pieces were selected to be displayed at the Crisp Museum at the River Campus through March 16. Awards and scholarships also were bestowed.

Carol Horst, art education instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, and one of the show's coordinators, said she tries to get an impartial art educator every year to judge the pieces. She noted the event is a way to celebrate the visual arts in this area and for teachers and students to see what other programs are up to.

The Alternative Education Center had five students accepted into the display, which greatly pleased art teacher Lawrence Brookins Jr. He said the whole show is very professional and he looks forward to it every year.

"I'm amazed at the talent these kids have," Brookins said. "It's a big boost in the arm for our school, because a lot of people have a wrong interpretation of what the Alternative Education Center is all about. ... A lot of our children ... are very, very good people; bright kids; helpful kids, and in this case, extremely talented, and people don't realize that unless they come into the building [and] visit us, or come to an event like this and see what they've done."

Twins Jayna and Alicea Little, students at Puxico (Mo.) High School, attended the event as Alicea had entries. Jayna was in the exhibition last year.

"I really like what everybody's done with it," Jayna Little said. "All the children did really good. You'd be surprised what high school can do."

Alicea Little said she thought everybody was more creative this year and more bright colors were employed in the work.

"A lot of children did a really good job of going outside the box," Jayna Little said.

Caroline Fowler, who attends New Madrid County Central High School, had a sculpture, "Sweet Red Rush," made of Coke cans, and a painting, "Memory Lane," in the show. Fowler said she's not used to big art shows.

"I'm just glad I got in compared to everything else here," she said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

River Campus, Cape Girardeau, Mo.