Art lovers had a busy first of May evening as exhibitions in all of the LAC’s galleries were celebrated.
The night kicked off with an artist talk by Chatham’s Maxwell Johnson in the Southpoint Sun Gallery. Titled Things That Go Bump In The Night, Johnson described how his vibrant acrylic images on canvas “start as a feeling and then become a physical embodiment of that feeling.”
The annual Juried Student Art Show followed Johnson’s talk featuring various types of art by grade 11 and 12 students from across the county. Artist Andrea Niven of Bear Foot Studios served as the judge for a show that included 150 works by 105 students from 10 different schools.
Student art was divided up into eight categories for evaluation and winners in each category received prize money from both the Rotary Club of Leamington and the Kiwanis Club.
First place winners included: Emma Franczuk of Tecumseh Vista Academy in the painting category, Kanade Konishi of North Star High School in the drawing category, Loay Chamas of Sandwich Secondary School in the mixed media category, Grace Bigaouette-Mailloux of Belle River District High School in the sculpture category, Donovan Prangley of Sandwich Secondary School in the photography category, Lana Mardegan of St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School in the new media category, Lance Principe of Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School in the film category, and Sophia Lanoue of St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School in the printmaking category. The prestigious Future Artist Award went to Deklan Vicek of Sandwich Secondary School who will be studying in Ireland after graduating in June.
Local students who placed, other than Principe of Cardinal Carter, included London Wray of Cardinal Carter with third place in the new media category and an honourable mention for Leamington District Secondary School’s David Enns in the painting category.
The student exhibit in the Arts Alive! Gallery runs until June 18, while votes can be cast up to that date for the People’s Choice Award.
An Evening at the LAC ended with another artist talk, this time by Windsor artist Alexandria Masse in the Cleveland Cliffs Gallery. The well-attended event was guest curated by Fei Qin and included art that was all made from Canadian hand-dyed wool. Masse shared that her pieces were inspired by childhood memories, especially by the insects that she would find while playing in her backyard.
The Far Out Show, housed upstairs, was also celebrated at the reception and includes expressionism pieces from thirteen different local artists.
