SHOW EXHIBITS STUDENT WORK

Art is alive and well in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. At least that is what visitors to the 21st annual High School Art Symposium at Southeast Missouri State University saw Sunday afternoon.

Students, parents and art lovers made their way around the University Museum to see the 127 pieces on display. The selections were chosen from 1,022 entries in the high school art competition.

"Maybe we'll hold this at the Show Me Center in the future so we can display all the artwork," said Dr. Sarah Riley, art department chairman at Southeast, during the awards presentation.

The room was filled with people standing nearly shoulder-to-shoulder. Last year, there were only half as many entries in the show.

Artwork came from 26 counties, as far north as St. Louis and across the state to the Ozarks. Students from public, private and parochial schools competed in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fibers, photography and ceramics.

Dr. Edwin Smith, Southeast art professor, cited three reasons why the university holds the annual event.

"We want to recognize high school visual artwork," he said. "We also want to help teachers promote their curriculums of art and the exhibition of students' art. And we want to recruit students for Southeast's art program through these shows."

Cape Central junior

Tim Kridelbaugh, a junior at Cape Girardeau Central High School had a piece displayed at the show.

"It's fun looking at one's own work," he said. "Also, everyone does different things, and it's nice to see the different art."

Kridelbaugh wasn't sure if shows and competitions help promote high school curriculums. If students are interested, he said, "they should get into this. If they're not, they're not."

Kridelbaugh and his twin brother, Roy, both had pieces displayed. The two were selected to create sculptures that will be photographed for next year's symposium poster, which promotes the event.

Also at the symposium, four art teachers from the region were recognized for their 100 years of combined art education experience. Susan Steele of Sikeston Elementary School, Judy Comer of Sikeston High School, Juanita Wyman of DeSoto High School and Dr. Grant Lund of the university were recognized. Lund is retiring from the university after 28 years.

During the ceremony, 21 students received awards. They are:

Sculpture

First, Joe Youchoff, junior, DeSoto; second, Lisa Obermiller, senior, Cape Central; and third, Tabatha Warren, sophomore, Sikeston.

Ceramics

First, Nick Swoboda, senior, Cape Central; second, Rebecca Foley, sophomore, Sikeston; third, Kevin Loyd, senior, Cape Central.

Drawing

First, Jake Wilson, senior, Sikeston; second, Carlos Castaneda, sophomore, Cape Central; third, Jake Wilson.

Fibers

First, Bettina Arathoon, senior, Dexter; second, Jessica Donner, sophomore, Sikeston; third, Angie Gibson, senior, Bismarck.

Photography

First, Amber Cobb, senior, Melhville; second, Melissa Laverty, junior, Melhville; third, Nathan Ashmore, senior, Fox.

Printmaking

First, Ellen Karras, junior, Sikeston; second, Jessica Balogh, senior, Cape Central; third, Michelle Myers, sophomore, Sikeston.

Painting

First, Ryan Bollweck, junior, Cape Central; second, Jodie Spradling, senior, DeSoto; third, Tom Dawes, junior, DeSoto.