By Lakelynn A. Honaker
Art shows are a significant stepping stone for any young or up-and-coming artist. This Thursday from 5-7 p.m., talented art students from across the parish will have the opportunity to experience this milestone at the opening reception of the First Annual Lincoln Parish Schools Talented Art Show.
The show will run through Oct. 30 at Chautauqua Gallery in the Lincoln Parish Library, 910 N. Trenton St. in Ruston.
Students in sixth through 12th grades from I.A. Lewis, Choudrant, Simsboro, Ruston Junior High and Ruston High School will have works displayed together for the first time. While the pieces will not be for sale, students each chose one piece to display that they feel represents them as an artist right now.
What ties all the pieces together is the fact that all the students submitting art are enrolled in the Talented Art Program at their respective schools. The Talented Art Program is a specialized track for students in grades 6-12 who have been evaluated and accepted by state-approved arts specialists in recognition of a genuine gift for visual art.
Deana Revels has taught Talented Art III and IV and Digital Design I and II at Ruston High School for nine years and serves as the co-sponsor of the Talented Art Alliance. Revels said that while not all students enrolled in the program go into a creative career, “they will always have the skills and experience they gained in Talented Art to draw from throughout their lives.” Students leave the program with experience in techniques such as drawing and painting, as well as skills in visual communication and creative thinking.
In the past, the Talented Art Program has hosted a senior art show, but this year’s art show is different and will give the younger students a chance to exhibit alongside their older peers. It will showcase for the first time the wide variety of skills that these individuals across the parish possess.
“I see my [senior] students grow so much in confidence because of the support and feedback they receive from our community,” Revels said. Like Revels, Talented Art teachers throughout the parish have invested wholeheartedly in their students to help them succeed as artists. This art show serves as a platform that gives everyone involved the chance to let their talents shine.
The art show will not only benefit the students but also the community. The public will have the opportunity to see the wide variety of artwork students are creating while gaining a better understanding of the work and development taking place within the program.
Revels noted that the art show “is a wonderful opportunity to see artwork from every grade level in our program, all in one place.” The show can give viewers a look at how students’ skills and artistic styles develop as they progress through the grades. Hopefully, through the continuation of the show annually, the community will have the opportunity to follow the students’ artistic growth over time.
