High school art show spotlights talents of youth

COLUMBIA BASIN - The Art Guild of the Soap Lake Area rescued this year's high school art show, and now residents can enjoy their victory this weekend.

Guild Vice President Al Lundberg explained the Columbia Basin High School Art Show is historically sponsored by the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center.

When a scheduling conflict raised the possibility the show could be canceled, the art guild and Columbia Basin Allied Arts Association decided to put on the show.

"The primary reason is the guild's mission is to support the arts in the Columbia Basin, and a vital component of this is youth art," Lundberg said. "The highlight of any youth art support would be ensuring the culmination of the work developed and techniques learned in the high school arts programs would be displayed, and the students' efforts recognized."

The guild felt it was a primary element of its mission to do what it could to support the show.

"We didn't necessarily expect to put on the show," Lundberg said with a chuckle. "But as circumstances dictated, with the help of the Columbia Basin Allied Arts, we stepped up to ensure it is put on."

The guild approached the Port of Moses Lake, asking them to consider use of the airport terminal, seeking a location with a large display area and ample parking that was easy to find.

"The port commissioners enthusiastically agreed to assist this worthy community endeavor and made the terminal lobby available," Lundberg said.

An artists' reception kicks off the 2008 show at the Grant County International Airport terminal building, located at 7810 Andrews St. N.E., Saturday at 1 p.m.

The show will be open daily from noon to 6 p.m. The works of more than 150 area high school students will be on display through May 11.

"These outstanding works were created in (Columbia) Basin high school art programs and selected by the respective teachers for inclusion," Lundberg said. "Whether it's a painting, drawing or sculpture, the students from schools representing the Columbia Basin from Mattawa to Ephrata have put their creative efforts on display for everyone's enjoyment."

A number of the pieces will be for sale. The show is juried and selected works will be recognized with awards and prizes.

"It is probably going to be one of the most rewarding public shows the art guild will have this year," Lundberg said. "The old clich/ (is) 'The future of our country is our youth.' The future of art in our country, area, basin, are these young artists who are learning their techniques, developing their passions for a medium and honing their skills through their high school art classes."