2015 High School Art Competition at Endicott
Endicott College Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the Annual High School Art Competition. Sixty seven works of art in this exhibition were created by students from the following high schools: Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Bishop Fenwick, Covenant Christian Academy, Danvers, Hamilton-Wenham Regional, Ipswich, Landmark, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Manchester Essex Regional, Masconomet Regional, Newburyport, Peabody Veterans Memorial, Pentucket Regional, Pingree, Revere, Rockport, Salem, Saugus, St. John’s Preparatory School, Triton Regional, and Waring School.
The exhibit is on view now through April 23, 2015 in the Manninen Center for the Arts, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday: 2 – 4 p.m. Closed on March 14, 15, 21, 22 and April 20. A reception, music by the Endicott Singers, and awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 12 from 5:00-6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Media included are varied, which makes for an excellent overview of what the talented high school students have been creating this year. The art faculty of these institutions is to be congratulated for their dedication and expertise from which many of their students learn not only the basic art techniques, but the highly technical media as well. The viewer will find ceramics, drawing, 3 D sculpture, dry point etchings, paintings, digital and alternative processes in photography, black and white photos, charcoal, oils, mixed media, copper plate prints, altered books, and collages.
This juried exhibit consists of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have been chosen by their Art faculty to take part in this prestigious exhibition. Each school was asked to submit up to three works of art from differing media which makes this year’s exhibition more diverse as in the previous four years. Numerous Award Winners are selected by Al Miner, curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Students are also given the opportunity to have their portfolios reviewed by a professor in the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
When asked why Endicott College is so supportive of high school artists Dean Mark Towner replied, “Visual and performing art can advance individuals, society, and communities in a variety of ways. Practice in the arts benefits individuals through emotional and psychological expression; increased academic and cognitive capacity; and character and behavioral development. Explorations into aesthetics are recognized to be a factor of open-mindedness and are related to dopamine-related genes.” Towner continued, “Art benefits society and communities as agents for social change and political expression; community and economic development; and contributing to a sense of place and belonging.”
Graduates of Endicott’s art and design programs typically work as creative staff in design, entertainment, marketing, media, or communications departments within established and often world-renowned organizations while some alumni transition to the workforce as entrepreneurial freelancers. The College’s commitment to state-of-the-art digital media, equipment, and software increases alumni’s potential for working in interactive media, building information modeling, motion graphics, and both fine art and commercial photography. Those pursuing careers in the arts work in museums, arts agencies, theaters, and educational settings, usually continuing their personal expression in painting, dance, or music. Art Therapy students commonly continue their education to become licensed therapists, while others prefer to begin working in healthcare and social service agencies. Masters program alumni either pursue a career in college-level teaching or significant advancement within their industries. Most recent data of art and design alumni report 84% are working and 13% are in graduate school.
For more information regarding the High School Art Competition 2015 or its programming, please contact Kathleen Moore, Coordinator of Visual Arts at 978-232-2655 or kmoore@endicott.edu