Adirondack Youth Featured in Art Show

Every available wall in the Lake Placid Center for the Arts gallery is covered by amazing fiber art, photographs, paintings and hand-made prints. Wherever I look, I am impressed – even more so, because none of the captivating works hung throughout the space was created by an artist older than 18. Students from 14 schools entered over 200 pieces for consideration in the North Country High School Juried Art Show. Lake Placid artist Nip Rogers was the juror for this year's High School show and awards were underwritten by Nancie Battaglia Photography. Participating schools in the 2011 exhibit include: Brushton Moira Central, Elizabethtown-Lewis Central, Franklin Academy, Galway Central, Keene Central, Lake Placid Middle/High, Long Lake Central, Malone Middle, North Country School, Northwood, Peru High, Seton Catholic, Westport Central, and Willsboro Central.

I asked juror Nip Rogers what the jury process was like for him, especially considering the quantity and quality of the works displayed. Rogers felt he was asked to jury this year because "some of [his] work is very youth oriented" and he works teaching art to youth. "I think [LPCA] thought I could relate to the work more then most." Looking around the gallery, I couldn't image where I would start, and Rogers echoes my awe: "...basically I had to narrow approx 185 pieces of art from various schools down to 90 to 100 pieces," he said,, Rogers said he "paid attention to what things really caught my eye right away." Then they went through the painstaking process of selecting the awardees from each of the categories.

Rogers is committed to his role as a teacher, and I was encouraged by his feelings about teaching. "One of the more difficult things for any juror," he said of the North Country High School Show, "is that being a teacher and lover of the arts, I don't like discouraging anyone from producing artwork. His concern is always that leaving work out of the show might discourage students and that they "might get the idea that their art isn't good enough." He says he is often rejected for shows himself, and he tries not to take it personally – maybe the juror didn't get the angle for the piece, or maybe the juror doesn't share his taste in art at all. What's important is to keep going, make the next piece, enter the next show.

I'm glad I didn't have to make the cuts for this show – which is altogether moving. Of all the great work on display, some certainly caught my eye. I loved the detail in the acrylic piece,  from Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School; the impressive Van Gogh interpretation, "Inspiration: Desire can be achieved once you have the heart for it" by 12th grader, Hieu Tran from Willsboro Central School; the vibrant color in the tempura piece, from Peru High School; and the lovely texture of the silk painting, "Koi Fish" by Lake Placid High School 10th grader, Alyssa Mahatme.

It's the kind of show that you want to go back to again and again – not just to enjoy the work – but to feel the pride of the talent in our area. The North Country High School Juried Art Show will be at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts until February 26th. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1-5pm, with additional hours during performances. Admission is free. I look forward to next year's North Country High School Juried Art Show and I recommend catching this one as soon as you can. Check Lakeplacid.com for future art shows and events at LPCA.

High School Awards

Best In Show - Ratani Mor, "Elastic Emotions", Long Lake Central School – Grade 11; First Place – High School Photography - Jordan Bever, "Out Damn Spot", Peru High School – Grade 9 and Zachary St. Louis, "Protection Avenue", Peru High School – Grade 9; First Place – High School Printmaking: Annie Xiang, "Sun Bird", Northwood School – Grade 12; First Place – High School Painting/Drawing: Nancy Armitage, "Corn Rows", Westport Central School – Grade 12 and Taylor Garrelts, "Cartoon Taylor", Long Lake Central School – Grade 11; First Place – High School Sculpture: Bowen Chen, "Happy New Year", Northwood School – Grade 9; First Place – High School Fiber Art: Ivy Lee, "My Lovely Pet", North Country School – Grade 9.

High School Honorable Mentions: Mel Blazer, "Sushi", Lake Placid High School - Grade 12; Kaylee Cross, "Can You See Me Amongst the Trees?", Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School – Grade 10; Kayla Hebert, "Oranges", Keene Central School – Grade 12; Hannah McCabe, "Last November", Keene Central School – Grade 10; Emily McConvey, "Otis and Uli", Lake Placid High School - Grade 11; Lucas Murphy, "Henry", North Country School - Grade 9; Rachel Patrow, "Cherry Pie", Northwood School - Grade 11; Nicole Podmore, "Clever Thinking Monkey", Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School, Grade 12; Meg Smith, "The Rock Giggler", Long Lake Central School, Grade 10; Peter Taylor, "Warrior of the North", Brushton Moira Central School - Grade 10; Andrew Wadsworth, "'57 Chevy", Keene Central School - Grade 12.

Middle School Awards

First Place – Middle School Photography: Tamara Coia, "Cows of South Africa", North Country School – Grade 8; First Place – Middle School Sculpture: Colden Blades, Damien Gay & Logan Phinney, "The Mighty Hammer", Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School – Grade 7 and Makayla Willet, "Carl", Malone Middle School – Grade 8; First Place – Middle School Painting/Drawing: Brent Lamica, "Blue Streamers", Malone Middle School – Grade 7 and Jonathan Templin, "Brill Pine", Seton Catholic Central High School – Grade 7; Second Place – Middle School Painting/Drawing: Ryan Tober, "Larry", Malone Middle School – Grade 8; First Place – Middle School Printmaking: Henry Sandiford, "Golden Gate Bridge", Long Lake Central School – Grade 8.

Middle School Honorable Mentions: John Canning, "The Guardian Owls", North Country School – Grade 8; Heidi Choi, "Lake Hill", North Country School – Grade 8; Shannon Goldfelder, "Tree Rhythm", Seton Catholic Central High School – Grade 7; Parker LeClair, "Down Under", Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School – Grade 8; Hannah Runyon, "Giraffes", North Country School – Grade 8.