Area High School Art Exhibition opening at EOU Feb. 24

Area High School Art Exhibition opening at EOU Feb. 24

La Grande, Ore. –The Nightingale Gallery of Eastern Oregon University is excited to present the annual “Eastern Oregon Regional High School Art Exhibition.” The exhibition runs from Feb. 24 to March 17. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition Friday, Feb. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the gallery. Awards will be presented at 5:30 p.m. that evening.

The “Eastern Oregon Regional High School Exhibition” provides unique experiences for young artists. This is the first opportunity most of them have to not only exhibit their work but to exhibit alongside their eastern Oregon peers. Jaime Gustavson, Art teacher at Union High School, said her students “enjoy the Regional High School Exhibition because they love to see other students work.”

“When students see their work presented in a professional gallery, alongside work of same-aged peers from throughout the region, I see pride and inspiration all over their faces,” said Jessie Street, Art teacher at Powder Valley. “They’re excited to attend the show and always hopeful they might be recognized for their work. I really feel like it plants a seed for future creative endeavors.”

The exhibit also gives audiences the opportunity to engage with the work of students from high schools throughout our region. Students working in a variety of media in grades nine through twelve will have up to two works on view. Schools with participating students include Baker City, Crane Union, Echo, Elgin, Enterprise, Grant-Union, Joseph, La Grande, McLoughlin (Milton-Freewater), Monument, Pendleton, Powder Valley, Union and Wallowa.

The EOU Art Program faculty judges the exhibit and will award a number of honors. Award certificates, gift cards, sketchbooks and a variety of EOU swag will be presented to the Best of Show winners in grades nine through 12. Honorable mentions will also be presented with certificates.

The La Grande Arts Commission will for the fifteenth-year sponsor awards for outstanding works by two La Grande student artists. Joining the La Grande Arts Commission in presenting special awards are Union County’s Art Center East, Baker City’s Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Pendleton Center for the Arts and the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture.

“The Nightingale Gallery is pleased to be able to exhibit the creative endeavors of our region’s youth,” said Cory Peeke, Nightingale Gallery Director. “We hope to recognize these students’ creativity, encourage their future artistic pursuits as well as celebrate the hard work and dedication of their teachers who conscientiously cultivate such promising young artists.”

The Nightingale Gallery is located in Loso Hall on the campus of Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 11AM-4PM. For more information please visit our website or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

To request images of artwork for publication contact Gallery Director Cory Peeke at cpeeke@eou.edu.