MANSFIELD — Lily Lin, a senior at Ontario High School, was able to breathe a sigh of relief Sunday. She finished two works of art that are now on display at the Mansfield Art Center for the regional high school art exhibition.
“It’s less stressful knowing that you don’t have to worry about deadlines anymore,” Lin said.
Though she had hoped that one of her pieces would make it to the state exhibition, she was still glad to have been selected for the regional show, she said.
Fellow Ontario senior, Sophie Zara, created a digital media piece dubbed “A Hot Night,” which was one of 300 selected for the state exhibition.
The process of selecting art for the state exhibition begins on a regional level.
From the 11,500 regional entries among 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.
Now in its 46th year, the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 high schools, both public and private, chartered by the Ohio Department of Education.
The governor’s exhibition can serve as a scholarship opportunity for participating students. Over 30 universities and colleges of art offer scholarships to students of their choice.
Of approximately 750 pieces in the North Central Ohio region that were judged, about 200 were declared regional winners and 21 were selected for the state exhibition, according to North Central Ohio Regional Directors Jim and Julie Buker.
Julie Buker was pleased with how the regional show turned out.
“I think it’s well-balanced both in media and school representation,” she said.
She praised the Mansfield Art Center for serving as host.
“This (exhibition) wouldn’t be what it is without them.”
Sarah Voelp, a senior at Mansfield Senior High School, has two works of art on display for the regional show — an ink drawing and a chalk pastel piece. She said they each took about a week to complete.
Art is something Voelp enjoys doing.
“It’s definitely something I want to do as an extracurricular in college,” she said.
For some, art just comes naturally. Take Abou Diomande, a junior at Mansfield Senior High School, for instance.
“I noticed a drawing of his in his notes and was amazed,” said friend Melanie Seaman. “He’s got natural talent.”
Diomande moved to the area a few years ago from Africa. Three of his pieces are on display at the Mansfield Art Center.
The regional exhibition, which is sponsored by Chuck Hahn of Cleveland Financial Group, ends April 17.
