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Somerset High School artists dominate Fourth Annual SCC Regional High School Art Exhibit
Somerset Community College hosted a reception for the opening of the Fourth Annual Regional High School Art Exhibit on Saturday, April 19 in the East End Gallery located in Stoner Hall on the SCC Somerset Campus North.
Art students from Somerset High School won first place, third place and honorable mention, while a student from Cumberland County High School took home second place.
Megan Fries, a Somerset High School student, won the first place for her untitled, mixed media work of art. Fries plans to become a fine arts major in college. Fries received a $375 scholarship to attend SCC.
Second place went to Samantha Cope, a student at Cumberland County High School. Cope’s work is entitled “Behind Closed Doors.” She will receive a $275 scholarship to attend SCC.
Third place was awarded to Mel Richardson, a student at Somerset High School. He will receive a $175 scholarship to attend SCC.
Flannery Napier’s fiber work earned an honorable mention from the judge.
Randy Simmons, a working artist and instructor at Western Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah served as the judge of the exhibit. Simmons currently has a solo exhibit at Pine Cole Gallery in Paducah. His work is scheduled to be exhibited at the University Gallery at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas this fall.
“I was thrilled to have Randy judge our high school art exhibit,” said Darlene Libbey, an assistant professor at SCC and director of College’s art program. “It allows all of the art instructors in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to see what other KCTCS college art programs are doing.”
“This year’s show had some particularly strong art work in it,” Libbey said. “Their work is very engaging and some of it might be considered quite controversial.”
Libbey said that she began the regional high school art exhibit four years ago to help introduce the SCC Art Program to area high school students.
“Having an art show for high school students provides them with an opportunity to have the experience of seeing their work displayed in a juried art exhibit,” Libbey explained. “There is so much emphasis on sports. It’s important to have a venue like this to honor and encourage students who are interested in art.”
Libbey said that next year SCC plans to open the exhibit to regional middle school students in addition to area high school student.
The exhibit will be on display at the SCC East End Gallery until Thursday, May 15. The East End Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no charge for admission.
Somerset Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SCC has campuses in Somerset and London, centers in Clinton, McCreary, Casey and Russell Counties. The website is www.somerset.kctcs.edu. Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-877-629-9722.
KCTCS serves the Commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu.
