LA GRANDE —The Nightingale Gallery of Eastern Oregon University is currently showing the annual Eastern Oregon Regional High School Exhibition.

The show opened Feb. 21 and continues through March 14.

The exhibit provides a unique experience for young artists to not only exhibit their work but also to exhibit alongside their Eastern Oregon peers.

“My students are always excited and honored to have their work shown at EOU,” said Jessie Street, who teaches art at North Powder High School. “It makes them feel seen and that their ideas matter, and that’s a type of recognition and attention from adults that they remember.”

The exhibit also allows the community to engage with the creative work of students from high schools throughout the region. Students working in a variety of media in grades nine through 12 will have up to two works on view. Schools with students scheduled to participate include Baker City, Burns, Crane Union, Echo, Elgin, Enterprise, Grant Union, Joseph Charter School, La Grande, McLoughlin (Milton-Freewater), Monument, Pendleton, North Powder and Union.

The EOU art faculty juries the exhibit and awards several honors. Award certificates, gift cards, sketchbooks and a variety of EOU swag was presented to the Best of Show winners in grades nine through 12. Honorable mentions were presented with certificates.

For the 17th year, the La Grande Arts Commission sponsored awards for outstanding works by two La Grande student artists. Joining the La Grande Arts Commission in presenting special awards are Art Center East, Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, and Pendleton Center for the Arts.

“The Nightingale Gallery continues its decades-long commitment to celebrating the creative endeavors of our area’s young artists,” said Cory Peeke, Nightingale Gallery director. “We recognize and encourage these students’ creativity and future artistic pursuits as well as applaud the hard work and dedication of their teachers who devotedly cultivate such promising young talent.”

The Nightingale Gallery is located in Loso Hall on the EOU campus in La Grande. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, check Instagram and Facebook.

The winning artists’ works is also on the Nightingale’s Instagram account.

“On behalf of the EOU Art Department and the Nightingale Gallery I would like to congratulate the winners and all the students with work on view,” said Cory Peeke, faculty director, Nightingale Gallery, “and I would also like to congratulate the art teachers who go above and beyond to make this event the success it is each year.”

Awards

Best of Show

Each Best of Show winner received a certificate, a $50 Dick Blick Art Supply gift card, a sketchbook from the EOU Art Department, and an EOU tote bag with additional swag from the Office of Admissions.

● 12th Grade: Eleanor Gisi (La Grande High) – “Red Landscape” (Acrylic Painting)

● 11th Grade: Riley Hurliman (Baker High) – “After Matthius Maius” (Painting)

● 10th Grade: Kenna Kinzer (McLoughlin High) – “Alice” (Mixed Media)

● 9th Grade: Brielle McCrae (Powder Valley High) – “Beyond the Keyhole” (Digital

Photograph)

Honorable Mentions

Each Honorable Mention recipient received a certificate of award.

● Baker High:

○ Kegan Bott (11th grade) – “Contrasts” (Drawing)

○ Cooper Foersterling (11th grade) – “Ramen Bowl” (Ceramic Sculpture)

○ Lillyanna Wilson (12th grade) – “Cuckoo Clock” (Ceramic Sculpture)

● McLoughlin High:

○ Yasmin Diaz (11th grade) – “Our Lady of Sorrows” (Drawing)

○ Sinai Martinez (12th grade) – “Peaches” (Collage)

● Monument High:

○ Natalya Smith (12th grade) – “Creature Feature” (Sculpture)

● Pendleton High:

○ Madison Grigsby (12th grade) – “Framed Horizons” (Photography)

○ Zarina Park (11th grade) – “Aquarium” (Painting)

○ Zoe White (12th grade) – “Pocket Full of Posies” (Ceramic Sculpture)

● Powder Valley:

○ Brittain Combs (10th grade) – “Eye in the Stormy Desert” (Mixed Media)

● Union High:

○ Chloe Mason (10th grade) – “Toshiba” (Ceramic Sculpture)

La Grande Arts Commission Awards

For the 17th year, the La Grande Arts Commission (LGAC) recognized students from La Grande High School:

● Best of Show – La Grande High Award: Kallin Burgess – “Wrapped in Wonder” (Painting) ($200 gift basket)

● Judges’ Choice Award: Eloise Bjork – “Thief” (Painting) ($100 gift basket)

Awards were selected and presented by LGAC Commissioner Taylor Scroggins.

Regional Art Center Awards

Four regional art centers presented special awards:

● Art Center East (ACE) Excellence in the Arts Awards:

○ Union County: Liberty Albers (11th grade, Union High) – “Cozy Cabin” (Ceramic Sculpture)

○ Grant County: Lilly Paddock (10th grade, Grant Union High) – “Lill Berries” (Fused Glass)

○ Harney County: Cielo Valdez-Celis (12th grade, Crane Union High) – “To Catch a Sunset” (Painting)

Each ACE winner received an art kit.

● Crossroads Carnegie Art Center – Outstanding Baker High School Student Award:

○ Hannah Lay (12th grade, Baker High) – “God of the Sea” (Ceramic Sculpture) ($50 award)

● Pendleton Center for the Arts (PCA) – PCA Award of Distinction:

○ Alyssa Oertwich (12th grade, Pendleton) – “Self Portrait” (Digital Photograph) ($100 award)

● Josephy Center for Arts and Culture – Wallowa County High School Best of Show Award:

○ Ezra Storlie (Enterprise High) – “Carved by the Road” (Graphite and Charcoal) ($100 Dick Blick gift card)

Judging and Presentation

● ACE award winners were selected and presented by Jennifer Durr, ACE gallery director.

● Crossroads winner was selected by Angela Blair, community art director, and presented by Cory Peeke on behalf of Executive Director Ginger Savage.

● The Pendleton Center award was selected by PCA Executive Director Roberta Lavadour.

● Josephy Center award was selected by the EOU Art Faculty and presented by Cory Peeke.