Student Art Show Followup

This post-show summary was provided by Art Burger and Danielle Burger of The Center Gallery Fine Art who spearheaded this event.

Folks started showing up Friday afternoon, a couple of hours before opening, while the Show staff was still setting up. On Saturday morning, a line began forming at 7:30 for the 8am opening.

And more folks showed up all afternoon Saturday to view the winners and the rest of the students’ work. An estimated 370+ folks attended the 2-day Show, and nearly $200 was contributed during the Show by anonymous donors.

A steady crowd came through the doors to enjoy the display.

While last year only a handful of the student winners attended the Awards Presentation, this year, 75% of the winners were in attendance.

This year 20 Students sold a total of 24 pieces of art at the Show. Two (2) students, Vivi LaFont, 10th grade, and Kayden Massegee, 9th grade, sold all of their entries.

And the Little Gringa food stand sold out of breakfast burritos!

[For a complete list of the winning students and their prizes contact The Center Gallery Fine Art, @foch&main, thecentergallery.com, 505-428-8418; and the Sierra County Arts Council at sierracountyarts.org]

INVITED STUDENTS

All Sierra County students from grades 6th through 12th — traditional and homeschooled — were invited to submit up to 3 original works of art. 

The Sierra County Student Art Show is a “juried” event. A panel of 4 established local artists reviewed all the artwork submitted and selected those students they considered the best in their grade.

The Show offers young and aspiring artists an opportunity to discuss their art with successful local artists, sell their work, and meet local art collectors and gallery owners.

Thanks in part to the encouragement of the art teachers and others at the TorC schools, there was a 16% increase in entries over last year. 

Last year 51 students were invited out of 67 applicants. This year the Selection Judges chose 60 students from among 80 applicants. 

Due to the generosity of community donors ($7,000+ cash and in-kind donations), the Show accommodated all students invited and provided Tiger Art T-shirts to all applicants.

The winning student prizes added up to $4,600, approximately 75% of the cash contributions raised.

From the winner of the HS Best of Show to the 1st place 6th Grade winner, many students submitted pieces employing different media, including clay sculpture; oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings; pencil and ink drawings; and photography. 

Several Show winners will be invited this week to display and sell their work at The Center Gallery Fine Art for the entire month of May (Names and pieces of art will be announced as soon as they accept the invitation).

Students are not charged for participating in the Show or selling their art at the Show or The Center Gallery.

So let the artists know how much you admire their work and maybe even take some home to enjoy all year.

JUDGES

Two of last years’ winners served as MS judges this year:

  • Scottlin McBride, Artist/SCSAS 2022 High School Best in Show
  • Selena Sinclair, Artist/SCSAS 2022 High School 2nd Place Senior

As did local artist Chantal Elena, who graduated from TorC schools.

SCAC Board members Rebecca Speaks (Selection Panel) and John Johanek (HS Panel)  served as judges. 

As did 11 additional local artists.  

NEW DISPLAY BOARDS

New displays were created by the show organizers, then donated to the Sierra County Extension.

Last year the Show borrowed four (4) display boards from Sierra County Extension. Recognizing that these displays were getting old and unstable, the Show built and is donating to Sierra County the six (6) new displays used in this year’s Show. These new displays will allow more entries in the Sierra County Fair Art Show and other community events. They are reserved for use by the Student Show during the month of April each year.

To contribute to future Student Shows, please call 505-428-8418 or drop by The Center Gallery Fine Art @ 201 S. Foch 87901.

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John Johanek
John Johanek

John Johanek spent 40 years in publishing including four years as art director for Popular Mechanics in New York. He then founded his own design consulting firm with clients worldwide. His firm earned the highest awards in magazine design excellence. He’s written numerous articles on the fine points of magazine design in leading industry magazines and presented hundreds of design seminars and workshops for major trade conferences, publishing organizations and private publishers stateside and internationally. He and his wife Durrae have authored two books on Montana (his home state): Montana Behind the Scenes and Montana Folks. For the past several years John has pursued his passion for art and now he and Durrae operate Zia Gallery in Truth or Consequences to showcase their work. He is a member of the board of directors of the Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project.

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