Two of our wonderful helpers, Susan Rahl and Evelyn Hambleton.
Educational Service District 112 filled its halls with student artists, families, teachers, and art lovers for the 43rd Annual Regional High School Art Show on Tuesday evening. The gallery opening and awards ceremony was expected to draw roughly 80 attendees; instead, Art Show Coordinators Melissa Burt and Jodi Thomas estimate that there were over 200 people there to celebrate student art, making it the largest show since the event began in the 1970s.
The gallery opening and reception featured the student artwork on display, along with refreshments, college information, and the music of Camas High School student a capella group, “The 6 of Us.” The award ceremony followed, opening with inspirational words from Ann Banks, OSPI Program Supervisor of the Arts and a presentation from Christine Clark, Professor and head of the Metals Department at the Oregon College of Art and Craft.
Clark spoke to students about installation, playfulness, passion, and continual improvement and life-long learning. She also had a powerful message for the parents in the audience: “I started my first art classes when I was in high school, and my parents were completely supportive all the way. I got both of my degrees in art, and I’ve been an artist forever, and, yeah, I don’t make that much money, but I love my life. I love what I do. Every day I do something that I love. And don’t you want that for your kids?”
After the Art Show awards were presented, scholarships were given from both Central Washington University and the Oregon College of Art and Craft, located in Portland. Nick Bakh, a senior at Heritage High School in Vancouver was one of the recipients of an OCAC $20,000 scholarship. He was particularly thrilled, as he’d told his teacher that he’d been dreaming of going to college there.
Art Show Coordinator, Jodi Thomas recalls the email she received back from his teacher, Valerie Blessley, after the scholarships were announced. It read, “Nick is in my class right this minute…He said, ‘I’m freaking out right now!’” Thomas says reading that email was her favorite moment from the Art Show. “It made all the hard work 100% worth it.”
The Art Show would not have been possible without the work of many wonderful ESD 112 employees. Melissa and Jodi would like to thank Frank and his facilities staff, Lori Oberheide, Susan Rahl, Evelyn Hambleton, Casey Gleysteen, Julie Gaetze, Judy Strong, and Kelly McPherson for their hard work and support.
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