The St. Augustine Art Association has announced the 19th Annual St. Johns All-County High School Art Show, featuring work from more than 150 students in grades nine through 12 thanks to a community outreach partnership with St. Johns County Schools. Hosted in the association’s Bradley Mayer Main Gallery, 22 Marine St., St. Augustine, the exhibit will be on display throughout March and can be seen in-gallery or online.
The exhibit is an association favorite, bringing a fresh and unique perspective to art today, and it started as far back as the 1940s. In the association’s early years, artists Tod Lindenmuth and Elizabeth Warren set out to host its first student art show. Sixty-plus years later, in 2004, Diane Bradley joined as a life member and board member after retiring from a 30-year career as a middle school and high school art teacher. She soon began hosting art classes after school and was inspired to create an opportunity for students to exhibit their work.
She set off to establish a partnership with St. Johns County Schools, and with the help of high school art teacher David Olson and St. Augustine High School Assistant Principal Allyson Breger, the association hosted its first St. Johns All-County High School Art Show in 2005 with only two schools.
Now, the exhibit features work from eight schools and more than 150 students, in part thanks to Tommy Bledsoe, former SJCS curriculum coordinator. He, along with art teacher Rebecca Williams, coordinated with local teachers and secured funding for student awards.
“This is one of my favorite exhibits of the year,” said Jennifer Flynt, association executive director. “Seeing the creativity and emotions these young artists are able to express in their work sets the bar high for visual art in our community. They understand what art is and what it’s meant to do for viewers, and they pull influences from more than just what they see with their eyes. These young artists take you on an emotional — and visual — journey. And whether they realize it now or not, this is an incredible, and historic, opportunity for them to have their work displayed here at one of the oldest art associations in the country.”
Visit the exhibition in-gallery between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays as well as online at staaa.org.
