By Scott D. Johnston
The creative efforts of 49 student artists from North Beach Junior/Senior High School were on display March 24 and 25 as Associated Arts of Ocean Shores (AAOS) teamed with the Ocean Shores Public Library to launch the first edition of an expanded Youth Fine Art Open Show.
Friday afternoon, 37 of the young artists attended a reception as their work was displayed in a temporary gallery in the library’s meeting room. That morning, 47 Ocean Shores Elementary 5th and 6th graders had a field trip to the show at the library, as did 30 students from Pacific Beach Elementary.
The show is affiliated with one of the North Coast’s longest running annual events, the AAOS Fine Arts, 3D and Photography Show, set this year for April 22-23 in the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The top 20 artists from the Youth show have been invited to showcase their work at this event, where they will also become eligible to compete for cash awards.
The youth show was comprised of students from the NBHS art classes of Richard Villar, and were judged by well-known local artist, Larry Walden. From those entries, 22 from 20 artists were awarded honorable mention ribbons which were displayed at the library show. From those 22 artworks, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen at a later date. There are also several individual and business sponsors who have chosen students’ art and made their own awards separately.
Villar noted that he was an art student “at Ocean Shores Elementary in the ’70s. AAOS had a student art show; I entered and came in second. I fell in love with art. I felt like a real artist. I was a pretty lousy student, so it was nice to be good at something.”
Of his current students he explained that for most, “it’s their first time at a formal art show where their work is matted and judged; It’s a big deal! As an art teacher, just to get them into the show itself — get ‘em through the door and almost 100% of the time you see their faces light up. It’s a whole new world of discovery for them.”
Sophomore Miriam Wilkerson had two pieces honored. She enjoys “looking at other people’s work, the different styles, seeing how they express themselves (and) being able to show how you can create something, how you can express yourself.”
Joan Lohr, a local artist, writer, AAOS board member and chairperson of the April art show, said creating a youth art show is a means to “honor the students in a more personal way.”
“We recognize that our future artists are the students. We want to help direct them and their talents,” she said, adding that AAOS has long been involved with youth art at NBHS.
The non-profit organization donates $2,500 each year to the art department to buy supplies, and also donates $1,000 for a scholarship.
“Youth has always been really important to us. We’ve been making them part of our shows so they can get the experience and exposure as artists,” AAOS president Ed Schroll said. “They’re the next generation of artists and we’re trying to encourage and nurture and cultivate them.”
Library director Keitha Owen noted the “library has always supported all types of local art” and is “excited to again cooperate with the AAOS.”
The 20 students who received ribbons are: Skye Bartell, Daniel Bundy, Steven Butler, Amanda Campbell, Khyra Chism, Lorin Cox, David Flores, Samantha Hanger, Taelim Joel, Moses Jordan, Kaylee Leslie, Cassie Levesque, Cari Linderman, Amelia Loudenback, Cody Martin, Reilly Moore, Trinity Schmidt, Lucius Veiga, Miriam Wilkerson, and Kenzie Wilson.
