After one year away, High School Art Show returns to MHC gallery

By LAUREN THOMSON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 11, 2022.

lthomson@medicinehatnews.com

The High School Art Show has returned to Medicine Hat College One on One Gallery.

In a press brief released to the News, MHC College announced that after a year hiatus, creative teen talent is back on display at the One on One Gallery with the annual High School Art Exhibition.

“Over 80 works of art – ranging from drawing, illustration, painting, and printmaking to mixed media, 2D animation and stop motion – were submitted by students from Medicine Hat High School, Crescent Heights High School and Monsignor McCoy High School,” the press release states. “Submissions are reviewed by MHC’s art and design faculty with first, second, and third place winners, along with two honourable mentions, selected based on a variety of criteria.”

The press release shares that Ian Richmond, co-ordinator of the art and design program at MHC, says he was impressed by the calibre of work he saw while hanging the show. He believes that despite all the COVID-related disruptions and uncertainty, high school students are thriving artistically.

“I would argue that the pandemic has made the act of creation (art) a healthy escape, and a way to help make sense of the situation and the world today,” said Richmond in the press release. “The themes in some of the work focus on contemporary societal pressures and the scuffles one has with growing up and adolescence, so there is some powerful work on display to ponder and reflect on.”

In addition to the cash prizes, award recipients will also receive guaranteed admission to the art and design program at MHC. The High School Art Exhibition is on display in the One on One Gallery at MHC until Feb. 24, 2022 with public access on Feb. 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. MHC art and design faculty and students will be in attendance to answer questions about the program.

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