Young Artists featured in the March exhibit by Logan County Arts and Lincoln Art Institute
Artist reception Thursday evening

[March 09, 2020]   LINCOLN - Logan County Arts and the Lincoln Art Institute are preparing for their annual Young Artists exhibit, which will showcase recent artworks by students of Lincoln Community High School. This is the ninth year that the arts group and gallery have co-sponsored the student show, which will debut with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 at the gallery, located next to the US Post Office in Lincoln.

The exhibition is being held this year in March to coincide with National Youth Art Month. For over 50 years, Youth Art Month has been promoted by art educators through the National Art Education Association as a way to celebrate the artistic talents of primary and secondary students. This year NAEA has adopted a theme of “Take a Journey Through Art” to showcase the value of art education in developing a wide range of skills, including problem solving, creativity, observation and communication. LCHS art instructor Lisa Miller notes, “The whole art teacher community across the country networks through social media. We share the artworks our students make and share the way art has an impact on their lives.”

Thirty LCHS students will be exhibiting in the show, most of whom have taken two or more art courses. The works on display will include both two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms, including painting, drawing, ceramics and mixed media installation. Several of the artists have identified one medium as their favorite. Sophomore Anika Bone prefers painting because she finds that “To me, using a brush is more satisfying than a pencil.” In contrast, her classmate Joseph Franklen prefers drawing because “I like the idea of having all the shadows” in the images. Sophomore Ava Leevey sums up her preference by noting that with ceramics, “You can create anything you want to in 2D or 3D.”

Some students look forward to incorporating their art in their future careers as graphic designer, tattoo artist, seamstress or chef.

Others foresee themselves in other careers, but most agree that art will continue to play a part in their lives after high school as a pastime or hobby.

Few of the participants in the Young Artist exhibition have shown their works in public before, and they are pleased and excited to participate in the event. Annalisa Alley echoed the general opinion, remarking, “I used to dream about having my art in a gallery one day. This is like a cool rendition of that dream.”

After the initial reception, the exhibition will be available until April 4 by appointment. Visitors may call Moses Pinkerton (217-651-8355) or Jason Hoffman (309-287-3744) to schedule a viewing. Also available at the March opening will be information on the April, 2020 LCA show, in which LCA members will show works on a theme of “Black and White.” Non-members can also show artworks in this exhibit by paying a small display fee. Anyone interested in doing this should contact Pinkerton or Hoffman for more information.

[Pamela Moriearty]