Elmhurst Showcases Artwork from 10 Area High Schools

January 12, 2016 | by the Office of Marketing and Communications

This month, Elmhurst College celebrates the work of young artists and public school art programs from across the Chicago area during the 17th Annual High School Art Exhibition.

Hundreds of paintings, prints, sculptures, videos and computer art, and works in other media will be on display during the two-week exhibition, which runs through January 19.

Every January, the entire space of Elmhurst College’s Founders Lounge, from floor to ceiling, is filled with artwork created by talented students from 10 high schools.

“This is the 17th year of the Elmhurst College High School Art Exhibit. I am in awe of the longevity of this exhibition program and the thousands upon thousands of high school students who have had their art work recognized—I might even boast that this exhibition spans two centuries,” said Suellen Rocca, director of exhibits for Elmhurst College. “It is truly a privilege each year to collaborate with the fine art educators in the high schools to create this exhibition.”

The high schools that will be represented include:

  • Addison Trail, in Addison
  • East Leyden, in Franklin Park; and West Leyden, in Northlake
  • Lyons Township, in Western Springs and LaGrange
  • Maine West, in Des Plaines
  • Morton East, in Cicero; and Morton West, in Berwyn
  • Proviso West, in Hillside
  • Willowbrook, in Villa Park
  • York, in Elmhurst

During a January 13 reception to celebrate the artists featured in the exhibition, students will visit the College’s art studios and tour its renowned collection of Chicago Imagist and Abstractionist art. The College also will award ribbons and scholarships to students from each high school.

The 17th Annual High School Exhibition at Elmhurst College will run through Tuesday, January 19, in the Founders Lounge of the Frick Center. The Frick Center is open days and evenings. A reception with the artists will be held on Wednesday, January 13, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Founders Lounge. The exhibition and the reception are free and open to the public.

The High School Exhibition is one of roughly a dozen shows that Elmhurst College will present this academic year in three campus venues. For more information, please contact Suellen Rocca at (630) 617-6110 or srocca@elmhurst.edu.

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