Over 250 student artists, proud family members, teachers and art lovers packed the halls and conference rooms at ESD 112 on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 for the Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show Gallery Opening and Reception.
The show was the largest yet, featuring 278 pieces of artwork from 23 high schools in the region. Students were presented with Regional, ESD 112 and Honorable Mention awards, along with scholarships from Central Washington University (CWU) and the Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC). Click here for a complete list of awards.
Students from the following districts participated in this year’s show:
Battle Ground, Camas, Evergreen, Hockinson, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Lyle, Ridgefield, Trout Lake, Vancouver, Wahkiakum, Washougal, and Woodland. In addition, one private school—Columbia Adventist Academy—also participated.
Music was provided at the gallery opening by Washougal High School’s student vocal group, X-TET, and Student Ambassadors from nearby Fort Vancouver High School helped set up the reception and welcome attendees. Abby Harris of the Vancouver School of Arts & Academics spoke about the importance of art education and encouraged students to take risks as artists to kick off the awards ceremony.
Harrison Higgs, an Associate Professor of Fine Arts at WSU Vancouver has judged the show for many years and was impressed by the quality of the art. “I enjoyed seeing student work from the high schools, some of which was on par with the work we see at the university,” he shared with Jodi Thomas, Regional Art Show Coordinator, “The schools and their instructors are doing a fine job with these kids.”
This sentiment was echoed by Gregg Schlanger of CWU and Sarah Labarre-Stravato of OCAC when they presented their scholarships at the ceremony. Both universities awarded more and larger scholarships than ever before.
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Show Hanging:
Jarred Jackman, Camas High School and Crystal Zeller, Vancouver School of Arts & Academics and their students: Emma Jones, Cormac Briggance, Grace Ireland , Seth Bradshaw, Remi Wilcox, Sophia Hale, Greta Dubois and Byanca Young.
Judges:
Erika Bartlett, Stephen Funk, Harrison Higgs, Jennifer Larkin, and Gregg Schlanger.
Reception:
- Abby Harris, Vancouver School of Arts & Academics
- “Washougal High School X-TET” (Colton Corbett, Ryan Dyba, Valerie Angell, Clara Harris, Madeline Turner, Kalisity Rink, Zach Jones, Donovan O’Brian) and teacher Jennifer Mahorney
- Student volunteers from Fort Vancouver High School
- Dick Graham, ESD 112 Board Member
- ESD 112 staff: Lori Oberheide, Susan Rahl, Frank Fiolek, Kelly McPherson
Statewide Support:
Anne Banks, Program Supervisor, The Arts, OSPI
Scholarships:
- Gregg Schlanger, Central Washington University, Art Department
- Mark Takiguchi and Sarah Labarre-Stravato, Oregon College of Art and Craft
Coordination & Planning:
Jodi Thomas, Evelyn Hambleton, Melissa Burt
Other Assistance:
Mike Nerland, Malena Goerl, Judy Strong, Alissa Jolly, Rose Yandell
