Student works | Dressler center display to spotlight art by Somerset Area School District

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

In this exhibit for young artists, every piece of artwork will receive an award.

The Somerset Area School District Exhibit will be on display Sunday through May 13 at Philip Dressler Center for the Arts, 214 S. Harrison Ave., Somerset.

The show will include artwork from students in kindergarten through grade 12 in the Somerset Area School District, and every artist will receive at least an honorable mention and a certificate, said Bridget Mayak, coordinator of the art department for the school district.

“The show will be juried by members of the Somerset County Artists Association,” Mayak said.

“They will award three best of show per grade level. There also will be specialty awards given by faculty, school board members and school principals, who will choose their favorites.”

An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. April 27 at the arts center.

Mayak and fellow art department members Randy Myers, Kathy Trent and Kayla Kennel will collect and hang entries for the show.

Student artwork will be divided into the art center’s three galleries by grade level, with elementary in one, junior high in another and senior high in a third.

“We do that so the public can get a better view of the progression of the work from elementary to junior high to senior high,” Mayak said.

“And the other reason is for the judges. It’s a daunting task with all that artwork. We try to group by grade level as much as possible.

“Within the elementary, I’ll color code groups of kindergarten through grade six.”

Mayak expects to have around 175 pieces of artwork from her students at Eagle View Elementary, where she teaches four days a week, and Maple Ridge Elementary, where she teaches one day.

“It will be a representation of the best from the lessons I teach,” Mayak said.

She expects the other art instructors to have between 400 to 500 more pieces.

Mayak starts at the beginning of the school year to choose pieces for this show and other student art exhibits shown at the Somerset arts center, including shows for elementary, middle and high schools throughout Somerset County.

After each of the shows are over, Mayak might hold onto some artwork for the Somerset Area School District exhibit.

“The majority of the pieces are new, on display for the first time,” she added.

Mayak said the two- and three-dimensional artworks will cover the gamut from crayon, paint, clay, ink, metals, plaster and papier-mache.

The galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends.