Each year, a special exhibition designed with the purpose of honoring art educators doubling as practicing artists receives submissions from high school teachers across Missouri. This year, Brick City Gallery is featuring the Statewide Juried, Secondary Teachers and Students Exhibition. The exhibition is on view October 20–November 4 and will be open for First Friday Art Walk November 4 from 6–9 p.m.
Teachers featured in the exhibition are invited to show three corresponding works by their students, as a way to showcase both their artistic and professional work as educators. “The art teacher who is a practicing artist generally has a stronger program, student work is stronger, so that is where the invitation to show three corresponding student images with teachers’ work came from,” explains Dr. Steve Willis, Professor of Art Education at Missouri State.
Art teachers and their students from Springfield and surrounding areas have work on show in this year’s exhibition:
- Lee Copen of Liberty High School with students Destiny Teubert, Madison Barnes, and Lyla Cornman
- Holly Goodwin of Republic High School with students Cara Henderson, Skies Pfeiffer, and Eddie Kelley
- Adrian Johnson of Ozark Junior High with students Gilhian Gonzales, Darria Ekimovas, and Sarah Fisherkeller
- Lindsey Johnson of Ozark High School with students Ashton Adams and Jayden Gregorio
- Bethany Kelly of Central High School with students Maddie Dimmick, Ruby Smith, and Natalie Reece
- Aaron Roten of Logan-Rogersville High School with students Brooklyn Johnston, Taylor Bingham, and Ariel Edwards
- Mark Schmidt of Clever High School with students Gage Evans, Ambryah Moore, and Addy Brown
First, second, and third place winners are selected from the group of entries. The following art educators were selected for the awards:
- First Place: Mark Schmidt of Clever High School
- Second Place: Lee Copen of Liberty High School
- Third Place: Bethany Kelly of Central High School
The works on display vary between mediums including photography, sculpture, graphic design for skateboard decks, and traditional drawing and painting. A new aspect setting this year’s exhibition apart from those in the past is a modification to size limitations for three-dimensional work, offering artists even more creative flexibility. Despite the range of artwork included, there is consistency across the board when it comes to the quality of work entered. “Every art teacher is an independent artist making images with their own individual preference with skill, concept, and organization,” Dr. Willis adds.
Brick City Gallery is located at 215 W. Mill Street, Springfield, MO 65806. The gallery can be visited Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Call 417-837-2330 for additional details.
Taylor Ladd is a graduate assistant for the Department of Art + Design. She is working towards her master’s degree in writing at Missouri State University with professional interests in writing about art, culture, and food.