New Exhibit Honors Young Artists

The St. Louis Artists' Guild is celebrating its 35th year in a tradition that gives area students the spotlight in the historic building's galleries. 

The Young Artists' Showcase kicked off Friday night at 6 p.m. and used both floors of the venue at 2 Oak Knoll Park for the two-hour opening. High school artists and their parents, along with friends and community members, packed into the galleries to view 160 artistic paintings, prints, photos and sculptures selected from a field of 333.

"I love it," Gallery Director Gina Alvarez said. "They're amazing. They're interesting. They can do a lot of things professional artists have forgotten about because they don't know any better ... A lot of the credit should go to the teachers."

The opening reception filled the entire parking lot. In the artistic spirit of the evening, a few creative visitors even made their own parking spaces. Alvarez estimated 600 people attended the opening, a higher figure than in the other two years she has coordinated the showcase.

"There's a lot of art here that's beyond the years of the artists," Executive Director Michael Hunt said. "What impresses me about this exhibit is the talent of the high school students and the amount of support they get from the teachers and the parents."

Mehlville High School student Louis Ferronato made "Fried Brain on Toast," a mixed media piece. 

Oakville High School senior Olivia Vitale cherished the experience of having work shown in the gallery.

"It's been humbling," Vitale said. "It's definitely really cool because of how many pieces were submitted. It's a privilege and an honor to be in a legit gallery."

Vitale's ebony artwork, Self Portrait, is being exhibited.

Hazelwood Central High School junior Elegance Davis, who created a drypoint print titled Tree of Life, echoed Vitale's sentiments.

"This is beyond my expectations," Davis said. "This makes me want to pursue art in more ways."

The suggested donation for the exhibit series is just $1. The Young Artists' Showcase runs through May 6. Visitors may come from noon to 4 p.m. on any day of the week but Monday.

The Artists' Guild is also hosting two exhibits alongside the showcase. I Breathe. I Walk., is an exhibition by class of 2003 Nerinx Hall High School alum Kristin Fleischmann, and Eggsperimental & My Best Work, is a collection of photography.