CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Laramie County School District 1 High School Art Exhibition will return to Laramie County Community College in March, offering a display of student creativity and talent in a professional gallery setting.
This collaborative exhibition between LCSD1 and LCCC will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday from March 2 to March 28 in the Esther and John Clay Fine Art Gallery on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus. An opening reception is scheduled for 6–7:30 p.m. March 13. Both the gallery and reception are free and open to the public.
Artworks from students at East, Central, South and Triumph high schools will be featured, showcasing the talents of those who have pursued advanced courses and honed their artistic skills. Now in its fourth year, the exhibition will feature a diverse range of media, including 2D, 3D and digital works.
The exhibition challenges high school art students to push their creative boundaries as they aim to produce pieces that stand out in a highly skilled field, said Steve Knox, East High School art teacher.
“When students have a goal of showing their work in a gallery and exhibiting among their peers, they tend to put a little more effort into their work,” Knox said. “They know that their work will need to stand out among some other incredibly talented artists. Then, add the possibility of receiving scholarships to the mix and you are guaranteed to see some of the highest quality student art in the state.”
Visitors can expect to see over 100 pieces of art, ranging from clay pottery and sculptures to paintings, drawings, fabric works and digital art. Past exhibitions have included unique pieces like wood burnings, painted car doors, glass works and hanging sculptures, offering something for every art enthusiast.
The partnership with LCCC provides an outstanding opportunity for young artists to understand the workings of an art gallery and make contact with college art students and faculty, Knox said.
“My favorite part of the show is seeing so many young people light up with their art as they see their work displayed under the incredible lights of the gallery,” Knox said. “When I was a young artist in LCSD1, we had far fewer opportunities for students to show their work and almost no opportunities to be exhibited at a professional gallery like the one at LCCC.”
Many of the show’s pieces will go on to receive awards and recognition at prestigious events such as the Capital City Show and the State Art Symposium, Knox said.
