Each year the Shelby County Arts Council gallery plays host to one of our most popular gallery exhibits: The Alabama Statewide High School Juried Art Exhibit. This year the event will be co-sponsored by UAB and the University of Montevallo. Judging this year’s competition is assistant professor of sculpture Stacey Holloway of the UAB Department of Art and Art History and assistant professor of art Michael Willett of the University of Montevallo’s Department of Art.
This painting is “Untitled” by Sarah Kim. (Contributed)
The SCAC reaches out to high schools all across the state looking for artwork from up-and-coming young artists. This gallery exhibit gives the students a place to proudly display something they have worked hard to create. Each year a selected judge reviews hundreds of entries from public, private and home school students in the categories of painting, drawing, photography, 3D design and mixed media. The 2017 exhibit saw over 300 entries to the show. Fifty-one of those entries were hand-picked for the final show by judge Doug Baulos of the UAB Department of Art and Art History.
Although selecting work from such a talented group of students is challenging, this shows gives students experience in the selection of juried competitions. They learn how to present their work in a professional manner, how to submit work for a show and even how to take rejection from a competition. These skills benefit students later on if they choose to submit work on a national level, and they are able to enter the competition at no cost to the student. Since the show is sponsored by UAB and the University of Montevallo students also have the opportunity to talk to university representatives about furthering their future in the arts.
Each High School Juried Art Show opens with a special gallery opening reception. Students selected for the show come from all over the state for this gallery opening. This is also where the category winners are announced and cash prizes were awarded. Last year’s top winners include: Best in Show and Best in Painting-Sarah Kim, James Clemmons High School; Best in Mixed Media-Macey Miller, Mountain Brook High School; Best in 3D Design-Sydney Williams, St. Paul’s Episcopal School; Best in Photography-Caroline Myers, St. Paul’s Episcopal School; and Best in Drawing-Hadley Gilmore, Athens High School.
The 2018 High School Juried Art Show will open on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend this gallery opening. Come see some of the most talented young artists the state has to offer while supporting the arts in your community.
For more information on this gallery opening as well as events and classes the SCAC has to offer, visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@shelby_county_arts) for all our latest news.
