MANSFIELD, Ohio–Close to 200 works of art created by high school students throughout the region are on display at the Mansfield Art Center for the Annual Regional High School Art Exhibition.
On Sunday afternoon the exhibition drew several families to the art center to admire the students’ artwork.
Of approximately 750 pieces in the region that were judged, roughly 189 were declared regional winners and about 30 are currently on display in the state exhibition.
The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, now in its 45th year, is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 high schools, both public and private. The process of selecting artworks for the state exhibition begins on a regional level.
From the 12,000 regional entries from the 15 regions, approximately 2,500 are selected to enter the state judging. State jurors then select 300 for the actual exhibition, with 25 of the 300 chosen to receive the Governor’s Award of Excellence, according to the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition website.
Julie Buker, art teacher at Ontario High School, estimated that there are over 70 pieces created by Ontario students that are in the regional exhibition. Over half of the pieces, she said, were created by students who have had artwork in the regional show in previous years.
“It was a big year,” in terms of production, she said.
One of her students, Erin Barnhill, had a piece on display in the regional show. She made an acrylic painting of a lion, titling her work “Clothed in Strength.”
She received inspiration for her work from a mission trip to Mexico that she had participated in, as well as the biblical verse Joshua 1:9, which says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
She said her painting was hung at her church for a while with that verse written underneath of it.
Though Abou Diomande didn’t have a piece in the regional show; he has one in the state exhibition. He created a pastel landscape depicting a farm. “It has a lot of depth to it,” said his art teacher at Mansfield Senior High School Mindy Duncan.
Duncan said that 32 works of art by Mansfield Senior High students are in the regional show. She noted that many of their pieces were created during the first semester of school because of all the snow days they encountered during the start of the second semester.
George Whitten, executive director of the MAC, believes the artwork showcased at the regional exhibition is good each year and shared, “The atmosphere here at the art center is such an excellent place to showcase the work.”
He said of the exhibition, “This is one of the best-attended shows we put on because it involves the immediate community and there are so many artists involved. It’s really a benefit for the whole community at large to get so many people coming to see one particular show.”
The exhibition, which is sponsored by Chuck Hahn of Cleveland Financial Group, runs until April 19.
