The Friends of the Arts, Regional Arts Council, and the Plymouth State College Art Department have once again joined forces to promote the work of top high school artist from around Central and Northern New Hampshire. Participants from over eighteen high schools around the area have the opportunity to display their work in the Silver Cultural Arts Center from February 2-23.
The Juried High School Exhibit displays a variety of mediums, from sculpture all the way to finger-painting. Among the criteria for judging was works that showed imagination and skill in their works.
The top exhibit award “Best in Show” honored Holderness School 11Th grader Kerstin Bendl. Her charcoal piece, entitled “Press” represented a dramatic rendition of a mechanical press in a very vivid fashion. The “Judges Award” was given to Jessica Luo, a Kennett High School Senior for her piece created with ebony pencil “Quiet”. The Craft award was given to Kristine Thom from Brewster Academy for her ceramic piece “Untitled.”
A number of area high school students displayed their imagination and skill at this year’s exhibit. Tom Perkins, a senior at Plymouth High School received an award of Excellence for his painting “Yuomrah”. Sai Mi Chun a Holderness Junior was awarded Honorable Mention for her work “Beaded Shoe”. Also rewarded with Honorable Mention was fantastic cardboard rendition of a large swordfish created by Liz McElroy, a Holderness Junior.
The great accomplishments of these young minds are an obvious reflection of, despite a rather rural setting, the quite culturally rich environment that fuels these young artists to excel. This year’s Juried High School Art Exhibit offers a wonderful combination of creativity, skill, imagination and diversity in all of its works, and certainly has something for everyone.
The Regional Juried High School Art Exhibit is on display until February 23rd in the main lobby of the Silver Cultural Arts Center.