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The Northwest Passage Gallery was a rockin’ last Friday evening as students, teachers, parents and visitors packed in to admire the 60 pieces of artwork by 52 students from local high schools at the opening of Burnett Area Arts’ 4th Annual Student Art Show.
There were sculptures, origami pieces, drawings, ceramics, mixed media works and paintings by 11th and 12th graders from Grantsburg, Luck, Siren and Webster high schools. New this year was the addition of photographs by five participants in Northwest Passage’s Expressive Arts Program, part of the curriculum for resident at-risk youth.
“I feel like [the art] is exceptional for the age group,” commented BAA member Jennifer Scammerhorn, who led Gallery Committee volunteers hanging the exhibit. “I’m really impressed with some of the sculpture and the drawings.” Adding “I think these shows are important because art inspires people. It teaches them how to see things differently, and nowadays we need people to have tools to deal with some of the things that are going on right now in our world.”
Cory Hinkel, superintendent of Luck schools, said the students are proud of their work. “It’s about being a well-rounded student exposed to multiple things – finding your niche in high school. I love walking into an art room and asking kids what they’re working on. It’s a bright spot in a lot of their days.”
Some students are inspired by nature; some are inspired by famous artists, like Luck’s Jazzlynn Iverson who modeled her sculpture, “Quercus” after American ceramic artist Christopher David White who uses clay to create pieces that look like decaying wood. “I looked at his work and thought ‘that’s really cool; I’d like to make one.’ And I did, and it turned out perfect.” Iverson is working on a new White-inspired piece for an upcoming virtual art competition.
Others were introduced to their first experience with art, like Webster’s Sawyer Winkler. “This is my first semester in art – I’m pretty new to it. I love it. It makes me feel great,” he said. His charcoal rendition of a farmhouse barn was a class project. “I like drawing. I do kind of well with it.” Winkler came to the opening after basketball practice. He admits being “big in sports” and science.
Jillian Snook (Luck) and Jordan Johnson (Grantsburg) painted self-portraits. Johnson departed from the required gray scale to add color to his work. He likes drawing in a futuristic style and is also inspired by nature “to look at things from a different perspective.
Asked why he thinks art is important in a school’s curriculum, James Springsteen, who teaches K-12 art for Luck schools, said “Creativity is a huge part of it. I also like the idea of divergent thinkers. If they come up with a problem with an art piece, they have to think of ways to fix it.”
Burnett Area Arts member and art show organizer Cheryl Redman awarded each student a certificate of participation. She reminded them that BAA offers student memberships with an opportunity to show their work in the Gallery. “We’ve also inaugurated a scholarship program this year.” Information about both is available at the BAA website: burnettareaartsgroup.org.
The Northwest Passage Gallery is located one mile south of Webster just off St, Rd. 35. It’s open to the public Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. For additional information email burnettareaarts@gmail.com.
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