A series of art pieces created by 41 Okotoks high school students is turning the heads of more than just their teachers and parents.
Okotoks high school students have their work on display for the Leighton Art Centre’s third annual Youth Works exhibition.
The exhibit runs until Dec. 23 and also includes artwork from junior high and high school students from seven Calgary schools.
“A really cool part of it was seeing people’s reaction to my art,” said Linde Liebrand, a Grade 12 student at the Alberta High School of Fine Arts. “It got loads of positive feedback. Some people thought it was creepy and some thought it was beautiful. It was really astounding that I got a very diverse reaction.”
Liebrand created a triptych that consists of photographs of herself in three poses and used natural materials to enhance the images.
For one she added flowers, another she added seashells and the third, mushrooms.
This is the first year the avid artist entered her work into the Leighton Art Centre’s student exhibit, although her school has been involved since 2014.
“The main reason I never entered the art show is because my art is different,” she said. “I thought people wouldn’t consider it art.”
Much to her surprise, Liebrand’s triptych placed second for best piece in the exhibit.
“I was pretty surprised because my art isn’t very classical,” she said. “It’s not something that a lot of people do. It’s very different.”
Liebrand’s visual arts teacher Paul Rasporich said he couldn’t help but feel impressed with the more than 150 pieces on display at the gallery northeast of Millarville.
“There is some really great art,” he said. “I was impressed with what students are doing out there right now.”
Rasporich said he encouraged his students to be a part of the show to gain inspiration from the work of other students.
“It gives them an idea of how they can maybe learn a medium that they want to try and how they can incorporate it into their own work,” he said. “There’s a few of them that want to pursue it even further.”
Exhibiting their work is a good experience for the students and Rasporich plans to take it further.
“I hope to provide more exhibition opportunities for the kids because that’s what an artist does,” he said. “If you want to be an artist you’re going to have to exhibit a lot and get yourself out there.”
Holy Trinity Academy art teacher Sarah Johnson also embraced the opportunity to have her students exhibit their work and suggested they select their favourite artistic creations.
“I leave it up to them,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids to just feel like they’ve participated in a professional venue. It sort of helps them feel recognized and appreciated and they get really excited about it.”
Seeing her students’ work on display was a big moment for Johnson.
“I think it’s a really great representation of the town,” she said. “I was really proud of the work that they did. I think the students come away with a sense of pride as well. They said, ‘Oh my gosh, we actually look really good up there with those bigger schools.’”
Showcasing student work is also a treat for the Leighton Art Centre, said curator Stephanie Doll.
“It’s always been one of our most successful shows,” she said. “At our openings we always get at least 200 people out. They get blown away because the calibre of art is phenomenal.”
This year’s Youth Works featured more than 150 individual pieces and student collaborations of junior and senior high school students ranging from sculptures to graphite drawings, said Stephanie.
“The kids always have a really awesome perspective on the world and it shows through in their art, even more so than adults,” she said. “Junior highs are very expressive in their art and their feelings about politics, the world and environment. They will just blatantly say it in their art. There is no beating around the bush.”
More than half of the student pieces on display are available for purchase.
The Leighton Art Centre is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
