High school artists experienced a professional gallery setting in the Claypool-Young art gallery during the annual Burley-Coal Region High School Exhibition and Competition.
After weeks creating, high schoolers from Eastern Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia had their works presented in the gallery and judged by Morehead State faculty. The various works consisted of 2D art, 3D art, ceramics, photography, jewelry, metal-smithing and fiber and textile design.
Students were judged based on originality, materials used and presentation.
“It’s kind of a wild day,” said Jennifer Reis, the Claypool-Young art gallery director. “There’s usually hundreds of teenagers in the building, but it’s a lot of fun.”
The competition was not the only exciting part of the day for the high schoolers. Students toured Claypool-Young studios studios and watched faculty give demonstrations and participated in hands-on activities.
“It’s a fun event, and some of these students might have never had an opportunity to have their work hung in a gallery,” Reis said. “I think also for some of the students, they may be juniors and seniors, so they’re like testing the water even if it’s just for a couple of hours of what would it be like to be a freshman in the department of art and design at Morehead state.”
Izzy Martin, a high school student from Paul Blazer High School, explained she hadn’t made her artwork with the gallery in mind, but was surprised when her teacher chose it to be exhibited.
“I think art is important to everyone,” she said. “Different forms affect different people.”
The first-place winner of each category, 2D best in show and 3D best in show earn the opportunity to go to the all-state competition in Northern Kentucky and become part of an all Kentucky state exhibition.
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