Third annual regional high school exhibition wraps up March 23
BY: Melissa Wilkinson
Editor-in-Chief
March 23 was the final day of the Meramec art gallery’s third annual regional high school exhibition. According to curator Jim Ibur, ‘Intrepid’ featured artwork from 17 area high schools that
“examine[d] moments or acts of fearlessness” in today’s era of struggling to forge an individual identity
The definition of ‘Intrepid’ was left for interpretation by the artists. Grace Singleton of Fox Senior High School, whose contribution was a mixed media sculpture resembling a storybook, described ‘Intrepid’ as “to be strong and fearless and bold.”
“This piece is my battle,” said Singleton. “My project shows me fighting my demons, drowning in my waves and finally coming up for air on the beach. I have scars, I bled. I came out stronger.”
While Singleton’s sculpture was a reaction to her struggle with depression, Parkway South’s Alexis Cole took a different approach with a brightly-colored self portrait done in Gouache.
“We’re all, within ourselves, really heroic,” said Cole. “[My piece] is showing myself in a heroic light. I’m trying to give myself more confidence.”
Participating schools were asked to submit three pieces for the exhibition, but Ibur made no specifications in his prospectus regarding how the pieces should be chosen. Cole was asked to participate by her art instructor, but Kirkwood High School took a different approach, with three different art teachers selecting the strongest piece amongst an entire class of work.
One of these teachers was Nancy Grimes, who chairs the art department at Kirkwood High school. Grimes attended the opening of the gallery in February and lauded the importance of ‘Intrepid’ for her students.
“For a high school student the importance is being in a real art competition,” said Grimes. “The hard part is trying to interpret that word into a visual image. It’s challenging and it’s a really good exercise.”
Jason Hoeing, who teaches ceramics and art history at Kirkwood High School, said the high school participation in Meramec’s art gallery not only encourages students to attend STLCC after they graduate but also serves as a “celebration” of their art outside of school.
“They can see there’s a broader respect for their work than just the classroom,” said Hoeing.
Like Grimes, Hoeing also selected a piece from his class for the gallery. Hoeing said Taylor Jones’ sculpture, an anchor with a chain, conveyed the dark meaning of being weighed down by expectations.
“To me it spoke of a truth in our society,” said Hoeing. “Also, it’s hard to make a chain out of clay.”
‘Intrepid’ is the third annual regional high school exhibition featured in Meramec’s art gallery. Ibur originally conceived the idea to exhibit art by high schoolers to bring in potential Meramec students and community members. According to Ibur, ‘Intrepid’ couldn’t have been more timely.
“This is an incredibly auspicious moment in our country’s history for high school students who are making an enormous statement in the wake of that horrible Florida shooting,” said Ibur. “Their amazing grit and articulation and unwillingness to just let it be another horrible senseless thing… I think high school students are doing what adults are unable to do, which is to take charge and use common sense. [The word] intrepid really stands out above the ordinary, going into the unknown. That’s what they’re doing.”
