17th Annual CAC Peoria Area Juried High School Art Exhibition

Thanks to the teachers and students for participating again this year in the 17th Annual Area High School Exhibition. The Contemporary Art Center is proud to show off the outstanding work of our area high school students. We appreciate all the organizational skills, hard work and initiative evident demonstrated in their participation. This year, 129 students from 9 area high schools submitted 172 pieces and 129 pieces are exhibited.

The exhibit is designed to simulate typical juried art exhibits in which artists typically pay fees of $25-60 to submit work that may not be chosen by the juror to be displayed. Each student may submit up to 2 pieces and pay a $1.00 fee for each artwork.

The annual exhibit was founded in 2004 by Executive Director William Butler and his former high school teacher Michael Hagenbuch, then newly retired from Limestone Community High School. Hagenbuch served as the first juror/judge and for some years after continued to volunteer in support of the exhibit.

Every year a retired high school art teacher is chosen to choose the work that will be displayed and awarded gift certificates. This year our Juror/Judge is Chuck Flagg, who taught art at IVC High School in Chillicothe for 38 years, as well as at Bradley, ICC and other places. He is a pinhole photography enthusiast heavily involved in two international pinhole photography organizations. A fulltime functional potter all his life, he continues to operate Flagg Pottery with his wife Patty since starting the business in 1975.

Outstanding Achievement:
The Girl in the Yellow Wallpaper, Megan Rocke, Tremont High School
Genesis, Bella Signore, Metamora Township High School
Through the Woods, Brandy Tennon, Tremont High School

Honorable Mention:
Incarcinisation, Ben Osborne, East Peoria Community High School
Heartbroken, Tayla Eaves, Peoria Notre Dame
Missed Memories, Ellie Deasey, Washington Community High School
Gone, Alexis Kalkbrenner, Peoria Regional Learning Center
Pocket Dragon, Ben Osborne, East Peoria Community Highschool
Anxiety Always Finds Me, Kailynn Russell, East Peoria Community High School

Merit:
Adventures of a Stingray pt 2, Madilynn Heft, Washington Community High School
Untitled, Milo Sergison, East Peoria Community High School
Stuck to the Eye, Morgan Viggers, Metamora Township High School
These Tranquil Waters, Cylas Lovin, East Peoria Community High School
Boston Tea Party, Jenna Owens, Pekin Community High School
Spider Web, Keeton Stephens, Dee-Mack High School
Apple of my Eye, Sabine Alig, Washington Community High School
Darkness Reflects the Light, Bianca Wike, East Peoria Community High School
Nine Lives, Ten Birthdays, Ivye Johnson, East Peoria Community High School
Mexicans Are…, Thalia Padilla, Washington Community High School
Grass, Thomas Graham, Peoria Notre Dame
Can’t Catch Me, Rae Ann Elza, East Peoria Community High School
Debt, Emmy Dutton, Tremont High School