The future of the modern art world is in the hands of the city?s art students right now.
Their visions will be on display at the Baltimore School for the Arts? winter exhibition, running through March 1. The show features work by the best of the best from all levels of students at the school.
“This show is the first showcasing what the work students have produced this year,” said Stephen Kent, director of the visual arts department.
Each teacher is allowed to submit five works that they believe are the best of their class. Kent acts as curator and selects pieces for exhibition.
“We?re looking to teach [the students] about what we think of as quality, these exhibitions are a learning experience for kids,” Kent said. “They begin to see what they should be striving for.”
Senior Jacki Arnold has a large mixed-media installation hanging on the back wall of the gallery.
“It?s split between two windows and shows two construction cranes and mechanical machinery,” she said. “It deals with the construction that has been going on in Baltimore. Seeing the architecture torn down is horrible.”
“It?s really well put together; all of the pieces are arranged in a cohesive body,” Arnold said of the show. “It?s a good representation of our school, and for high school work, I would say it definitely should get some recognition.”
Jesse Klompus, a senior with four pieces in the exhibit, said that the exhibit is a great way for people to see what?s going on inside of the BSA. “It?s a great way to see what young people are doing with art who haven?t gotten into the whole money-making scene,” she said. “There are a lot of fresh new things going on here.”
One of the two sculptures Klompus has in the show is an organic, abstract mold made entirely out chocolate, dusted with cocoa and sugared powder. The second work is a fabric sculpture inspired by her visit to California. “I was inspired by the seaweed and sea life there,” she said.
“It looks like college work,” Kent said of the caliber of the exhibition.
“It?s a really uplifting and positive thing to see what?s going on in a public high school with creative, interesting, devoted kids and teachers,” he said.
If you go
Baltimore School for the Arts Winter Art Exhibition
» Venue: Baltimore School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral St., Baltimore
» Cost: Free
» For times, call: 410-347-3043
