By Arabella Saunders, Features Editor
The closing reception for Dare County’s Annual K-12 Art Exhibition will take place on Friday, Jan. 20, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Glenn Eure Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. Granting students the opportunity to showcase their hard work, the 12-day exhibit, organized by First Flight art teacher and Dare County art liaison Alice Baldwin, has housed over 200 pieces from student-artists.
“The students were chosen by their teachers and each teacher got to choose about 20 pieces or more, depending on size, to put into the show,” Baldwin said. “It’s an opportunity for students to get their artwork out into the community as well as an opportunity to show in different venues.”
For many students, learning they had been chosen for the show fostered excitement as well as a sense of confidence.
“It feels really good (to be in the show) because I wasn’t very confident in my project,” junior Payton Gaddy said. “But apparently, it was what Mrs. B was looking for.”
In addition to aiding artists’ confidence, the exhibit also gives students the chance to compete at higher-level shows. Each year, the Outer Banks Woman’s Club selects outstanding pieces of artwork to compete at the regional and state competitions. Senior Gabrielle Sullivan’s artwork was chosen last year.
“I had one piece in the show, my beetle project, and I got to states with it,” Sullivan said. “I was surprised. I didn’t even know that it was entered into a contest at the time, but then I was like, ‘Oh, that’s awesome!’ and so I went to the awards ceremony and I got some money and some certificates.”
Contenders for this year’s competitions were chosen at the beginning of the week and will be on display during the closing ceremony. Artists, friends, family and community members are all encouraged to attend.
“People should come to support their friends,” Baldwin said. “The closing reception will have fun, family, fellowship and art. Really, it’s just a time for everyone to gather at once and see all their art teachers and take pictures with the art.”
Junior Arabella Saunders can be reached at [email protected].
