Student Art Celebrated at Arts Center

By Joel Frady

The work of Ashe County students will take over the gallery walls at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson

this week for the annual Young at Art show. The exhibit will feature at least one work from every local student who submitted a framed work of art.

"The purpose of Young at Art is to provide an opportunity for Ashe County students to be part of a non-competitive exhibit so that they can have their paintings and artwork presented in a professional manner," said Rebecca Herman, program director for the Ashe County Arts Council.

"It helps foster young people to be creative.," she continued. "This is not done in an art class or in a workshop. It's usually something they've done at home with the encouragement of their parents."

The exhibit was open to students, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and the exhibit will feature approximately 150 pieces of art from 100 Ashe County students. Herman said that the Ashe County Arts Council continues to hold the exhibit "because the public likes it, the kids enjoy it and we certainly enjoy showing off their artwork."

Jorena Sparks, who has taught art at Mountain View Elementary for five years, said that Young at Art helped her grow as an artist before she graduated from Beaver Creek High School in 1993.

"As a student, it was really neat to be recognized," she said. "It was my first public exhibition, and it made me feel very important that my art work got out to the public. I think the students today feel that way.

"I probably wouldn't have exhibited my work on my own," she continued, noting that her art teacher, current Ashe County High School teacher Pat Morrison, encouraged her to participate in the exhibit. She said that she tries "to encourage my students to exhibit their work as well."

Sparks said that the students have other opportunities to have their work on display, in the schools and in a special exhibit at the State Employees Credit Union, but that Young at Art provides the only opportunity at a professional gallery. She noted that the exhibit's reception, which will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, is "always the best place to see the kid's responses.

"They come with their parents and they run up to their work," said Sparks. "They're very proud to show their parents something that is in a public arts setting."

Young at Art will be on display at the Ashe Arts Center until Saturday, May 2, when it will be taken down to make way for the gallery's next exhibit, Postcards from the Edge. The reception on Thursday is free and open to the public.

To find out more about Young at Art, contact the Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.