ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Now through March 27, student artists are the stars of the show at an Escanaba art gallery.
The Bonifas Arts Center is hosting its long-running Youth in Art exhibit with gallery partner Billerud. The gallery is filled with more than 650 pieces from local schools and homeschool groups.
“We are so excited!” said Gallery Director Kate Oman. “This exhibit happens annually. I don’t even know what year [this is], but I do know that in seventh grade participated, and now I’m Gallery Director.”
Artists range from kindergarteners to seniors in high school. Some pieces are group projects while others are one-of-a-kind. However they were made and no matter the medium, each piece demonstrates the unique talents of each student.
“These students are just phenomenal,” Oman said. “I say it every year, but every year it gets better. The teachers push their students to do stuff that I couldn’t even imagine doing at my age. The students are just engaged in the project and really do a great job.”
Thanks to the award sponsors—Billerud, Escanaba Kiwanis, Michigan Education Association Coordinating Council #17B, the Bonifas, the Escanaba Women’s Club, and the Delta Schoolcraft ISD—ribbons will be given to select artists. The winning pieces will be announced on Tuesday, March 11, on the Bonifas Arts Center Facebook page.
On March 12, the Bonifas will host an open house for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. A sixth through twelfth-grade reception will be held on March 13. Both open houses run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and all are welcome. Guests are encouraged to leave a written comment for the artists behind their favorite pieces to encourage them on their creative journeys.
Youth in Art is free to view during business hours, which are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Bonifas Arts Center is located at 700 1st Avenue South.
