Perry Arts Center presents the 2020 Student Art Show

Each year, a small group of private citizens known as the Perry Arts Group promotes art and artists in Georgia by putting on three distinctively different shows to celebrate the craft. The first one, specifically designed to showcase and celebrate the work of high school students, just ended at the start of this week. The 2020 Student Art Show took place January 17-19 and as always, it was open to the participation of all high school students in Houston County, whether private, public, or home schooled.

There are five art categories in which students compete: Drawing (pencil, pen & ink, charcoal, pastel), Painting (acrylic, oil, water media), Mixed media/collage, Photography, and 3 Dimensional. First place winners of each category are awarded $50 each, second place winners receive $40 each, third place winners each get $30, and every student with an honorable mention (three in each category) are granted a $15 prize. The Best of Show winner is presented with $100, and those who get the most votes from the viewing public (two selected overall) are named “People’s Choice” winners and receive $40 each. On average, the annual cash awards for the Student Art Show total just over $1,000.

Even though the art show itself didn’t kickoff until Friday morning, the winning selections were made late Thursday. “Professional artists and/or art teachers serve as our judges,” said Larry Hunt, head of the Student Art Show. “They evaluate all of the artwork and select the winners. We [Perry Art Group members] place ribbons beside the winning pieces, and it’s all done by the time the show opens on Friday.” Hunt mentioned that those who submit artwork can either come to the show and find out they won at that time, or their teachers will inform them on Monday when they return to school.

Houston County is the home of quite a number of rising artists. According to Hunt, last year, the show set a record with 247 submitted pieces of artwork. “This year we had one high school—Warner Robins High—that didn’t participate because their art teacher relocated,” he said. “The students could have entered the contest on their own, but we didn’t have any students from that school this year, so we had less entries overall.” Other high schools that take part annually are Houston County, Westfield, Veterans, Perry, and Northside. Even with the absence of one school’s involvement, the show still had 160 art pieces to be judged, based upon Hunt’s calculation.

The top winners for this year’s show included the following 1st place winners: Jordyn Yoder (in the Drawing category) from Perry High School for her piece titled “Tiger,” Ashlynn Runyon (in the Painting category) from Perry High School for her piece titled “Blue Girl,” Sarah Bixler (in the Mixed Media/Collage category) from Perry High School for her piece titled “Fairytale,” and Jim Way (in the 3 Dimensional category) from Westfield High School for his piece titled “Grooot.” No winner was named in the Photography category due to the lack of participation. The lone submission by Samantha Stewart from Northside High titled “Sara” was given an honorable mention. Ashlynn Runyon’s “Blue Girl” was also recognized as Best of Show (the award given to the submission that is considered the best overall).

2020 marks the 6th Annual Student Art Show, and its success is due to the efforts and support of many. “We definitely want to recognize the Perry Arts Commission,” Hunt said. “They support us, and they provide the building for us to use to host the show.” Hunt mentioned that other sponsors differ from year to year, and aside from Perry Arts Commission, this year’s other sponsors were Bodega Brew and Firehouse Subs.

More information regarding the Perry Arts Group and the its upcoming remaining art shows for the year can be found by visiting the Perry Arts Group Facebook page, PAGPerryGA.