Anna-Catherine Kueng ~ Assistant Editor
On Feb. 20, the Regional High School Art Exhibition opened in the Daura Lobby Gallery and it will remain on display until March 6.
Students whose art is featured in the Daura Lobby Gallery are from the following schools: Altavista Combined School, Amherst County High School, Brookville High School, William Campbell Combined School, E.C. Glass High School, Heritage High School, Holy Cross Regional School, Jefferson Forest High School, Liberty Christian High School, Nelson County High School, and Virginia Episcopal School.
“This is our second year of sponsoring the area high school art exhibition. Last year, we had about six schools participating representing about 40 works. This year, we have eleven schools from our region participating, representing about 70 works! We sponsor the exhibition so we can acquaint the students with the significance of exhibiting their art, introduce the art students to each other, and to the University’s Art Department,” said Richard Pumphrey, Professor in the Art Department.
Jesi Thompson, an art teacher at Virginia Episcopal School, is one of the many teachers whose students are participants in the Regional High School Art Exhibition. She explained, “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for my student artists to have the experience of participating in a formal art show with their work in it. Hanging their work in this show provides them with an authentic audience, bringing value to their experience as artists. Attending the reception will also allow my students to view other high caliber artist of their age group, which I hope will generate ideas and inspiration for their future works of art.”
Pumphrey added, “This exhibit heightens the energy level in the art department. Our students get excited about seeing the work of others who may be here as art majors one day and the art faculty get encouraged by seeing the many strong pieces displayed by the art majors of tomorrow. The high school exhibit in our Dillard Lobby Gallery exposes the students to the opportunity of exhibiting their work in an upper level fine arts environment, most for the first time.”
According to an email sent by Ursula Bryant, there will be a “reception with food and beverages and a chance to meet the young artists whose work is in the show” on March 6. The reception will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in the Daura Lobby Gallery, located in the Dillard Fine Arts Building.
“You will find around 100 or more visitors in our Dillard Fine Arts Building Lobby Gallery on Wednesday evening. Our studios will be open for our guests to visit and talk with current art majors. In addition, many exhibitors will meet art students from their region for the first time. After the general reception, where food is provided and a string quartet plays, and after words of congratulations, the exhibit’s climax is the announcements of the Merit Awards recipients,” said Pumphrey.
A flyer by the University of Lynchburg Art Department noted, “the awards have been selected by the U of L Art Department faculty and will be announced at the closing reception. [There are] four ‘Young Artist of Excellence’ awards, one ‘Outstanding Artist’ award, and one ‘Top High School Award.’”
The reception is going to be an exciting time for students, teachers, and the University of Lynchburg campus.
“I am excited to experience the energy of passionate art students and art teachers gathering to celebrate great works of art. I also look forward to viewing all the art, as I often gather new project ideas when viewing other student work. Also, I am of course very interested to see who will win best in show and find out from the collegiate level judges why they selected the work as the star of the show,” said Thompson.