Youth Art Month Exhibit
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through April 14
Where: Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville
How much: Free
Contact: 770-536-2575
The Quinlan Visual Arts Center has rolled out the red carpet for the community's youngest artists.
In honor of Youth Art Month, the center is hosting a special exhibition featuring the works of area students in elementary through high school.
The Youth Art Month Exhibition will be on display through April 14. Hours for viewing are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
"All of our gallery spaces are devoted to displaying their work," said Paula Lindner, Quinlan assistant director. "We have more than 430 pieces. It's amazing to see."
The annual art competition is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville. All of the local schools were invited to submit their students' best work.
"We've had twice as much participation this year, so we're really happy with the turnout," Lindner said.
"It's always interesting to see what's on their minds and how that is portrayed in their art. Some of the kids really delved into kind of intense subject matter.
"All in all, we have some really great artwork and lots of great talent."
Awards were given out last week during a reception for the student artists at the center, 514 Green St. NE in Gainesville.
First through third-place prizes and honorable mention awards were presented for the middle and high school students. There was also a "Best in Show" category, in which Gainesville High School students Thuy-Hanh Tran (first) and Gabrielle Diaz (second) placed. West Hall High School student Connor McFall took third place, while Lakeview Academy's Cassidy Collins earned honorable mention.
Exhibition winners received scholarship awards from the Charles J. Thurmond Youth Art Scholarship Fund. The scholarship amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,500.
The show is a noncompetitive exhibition for elementary-aged students. Each of those artists received a certificate recognizing their participation.
"Last year was the first time that we invited the elementary students, grades 3 through 5, to participate," Lindner said. "We are very pleased that they returned this year."