In concert with area high school art teachers, The Texana Arts Council hosts the second Jackson County High School Art Exhibition in Ganado at Top Hand Events, 8936 Highway 59 North. The exhibition features 45 juried works by art students at Edna, Ganado and Industrial high schools. It opens Friday, March 14 at 5:30 PM with a public reception and artist talk by noted Fort Worth artist, Billy Hassell. The event is free to the public and all are invited and encouraged to attend to experience an exceptional selection of artwork produced by young artists from area high schools.
Council President, Shelley Srp, recalls that “last year’s event in Edna was TAC’s first time to bring a visual arts exhibition to our students and community. It turned out to be one of our most popular and well-attended events of the season. Everyone loved that it showcased the caliber of Jackson County’s home-grown, creative talent that thrives right here and too often goes unseen and underappreciated! This is an inspiring event to us because we can bring the work of these young people into the spotlight, and we are proud to host it!”
Linda Reaves who is coordinating the event for TAC agrees. “Not only does this show feature works by some of our most talented students,” says Reaves, “but it also shows the leadership and inspiration given by our wonderful art teachers here in the county.”
Besides exhibiting excellent examples of student work for public view, the Council also seeks to use the exhibition experience as an expanded educational opportunity for participating student-artists. Reaves explained that “TAC is bringing some of the state’s foremost contemporary painters and sculptors in as Visiting Artists to give our Jackson County students (and public) an opportunity to hear from some of the best and learn more from them about their own creative process and career journeys as professional artists.” This year’s Visiting Artists are Billy Hassell, a wellknown wildlife artist from Fort Worth and Fidencio Duran, a widely respected painter and muralist from Austin. “In this way,” Reaves says, “we hope that the exhibition also presents additional art educational opportunities for both our students and teachers and adds an additional dimension to local high school art programs.”
Beyond the opening events on Friday evening, the exhibition will be open for public viewing Monday through Friday, March 17−21 from 11 AM to 2 PM. In addition, patrons can catch Fidencio Duran’s informative art talk on Wednesday, March 19 from 2−4 PM, and likewise engage in the exhibition finale— a teacher-led student art discussion—on Friday, March 21 from 2−4 PM. The exhibition is generously sponsored by 15 local businesses or individuals and TAC extends an invitation and a warm welcome to everyone to come by to enjoy a rare chance to view and experience some amazing artwork!
For more information, contact Shelley Srp at 361782-5949.
