Student art from all across Tucker County was on display Sunday during the STArt 2016 Student Art Show and Reception at the Davis Fire Hall. Inset: First Place in the People’s Choice awards went to Karsyn White of Parsons.
By Beth Christian
Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – Nearly 200 pieces of art were on display Sunday during the STArt 2016 Art Show and Reception held at the Davis Fire Hall, representing the Tucker County K through 12 students who are students of Olivia Snider, Chelsi Primavero, Mary Waters, David Nelson as well as home-schooled students.
All students participating in the exhibit will receive a certificate of participation and 33 awards were presented during the reception. After Sunday’s exhibit, the student work will be placed in cooperating business sites throughout Tucker County during the month of May.
STArt hosts the annual all-county K-12 Student Art Show and following the show, pieces are displayed in more than 30 Tucker County businesses. Local businesses, individuals, towns and the Tucker Community Foundation sponsor prizes to 33 students. Sponsors and other gifts make it possible for STArt to give more than $12,000 to Tucker County schools for art supplies. STArt is an advocate for arts education and a channel for public support.
Superintendent of Tucker County School Dr. Eddie Campbell thanked everyone for supporting the program in Tucker County.
“I want to thank the STArt Program and the WVHighlands Artisans for doing this for us,” Campbell said. “I also want to thank our BOE members for supporting the arts. They have to make tough decisions year in and year out about finances and programmatic things and they have never ignored the arts. I congratulate them and our three principals for the support they give our programs in the schools.”
Campbell thanked the Tucker County art instructors for passing along their talent to the students.
“It is evident here and all over the schools how you are supporting the youth of our communities,” Campbell said. “I also want to thank the parents for supporting your kids in the direction they move when they make these beautiful pieces of art.”
Judge for the 2016 STArt Student Art Show and Reception was Michael Doig. Doig is head of the art department at Davis & Elkins College. He is the artist in residence at the Vandalia Center for the Arts at the Buxton and Landstreet Gallery and Studios in Thomas. Doig worked with the Governor’s School for the Arts.
“These projects are amazing,” Doig said. “The judging process was very difficult. I am used to working with adults and it is easier because student art pulls at your heart strings. It took me about five hours to determine the winners.”
During ArtSpring weekend, which is May 27 to 29, the prize winning pieces from the STArt Student Art Show will move to a Young Artist Showcase in the building under renovation next to Sirianni’s.