Detroit Institute of Arts Presents New Wayne County High School Art Show
Updated Jun 22, 2022
Exhibition features artwork by students from 20 schools across Wayne County
June 22, 2022 (DETROIT) – The Detroit Institute of Arts presents the pilot Wayne County High School Student Art Show, featuring artwork created by high school students from throughout Wayne County. The show runs June 25 through July 31, 2022 and features over 80 works of art including photography, mixed media and paintings created by 60 students from 20 Wayne County high schools.
The inaugural student art show received over 150 entries and the selected pieces were juried by DIA educators. Students in grades 9-12 who attend public, charter, private or home school in Wayne County were eligible to enter.
“We are so excited to pilot this program and showcase the amazing work of these talented high school student artists in Wayne County,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director. “The Detroit Institute of Arts is a leader in education, and we are honored to provide an additional platform for young artists from the tri-counties to develop their creativity.”
The museum will host a special opening event to celebrate the show on Tuesday, June 28.
Wayne County Art Institute Authority member Renata Evans, who suggested the idea of a Wayne County Student Art Show, and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans will be in attendance.
“Wayne County has so much to offer by way of the arts, and the remarkable artistic talent of so many of our young people is a critical part of that rich culture. Beginning Saturday, June 25, more than 50 imaginative works created by Wayne County high school students will be on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts through July 31,’ said Warren Evans, Wayne County Executive. “The DIA has long been a crown jewel of Wayne County, and I am glad to see that the featured works of young local artists will be given the sort of high-level attention they deserve.”
When asked what it meant to have their work showcased at the DIA a few participating students shared their thoughts:
India Jackson (Senior, William D. Ford Career-Technical Center):
“To show my work at the DIA means that I have accomplished a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and for that, I am very grateful.”
Chrishani Pleasant (Senior, Mumford High School):
“Showing my work at the DIA is like saying my creativity matters. When I make my art, I make it for myself without anyone else in mind. But because I make it for myself, I start to think my art has no effect on anyone else. I get discouraged when I think my work is miniscule; that it doesn’t matter to anyone but myself. Showing my work at the DIA has strongly combatted this feeling. People come around and tell me how wonderful my art is, they show me how it makes them feel, and they always ask me what my artwork means. Showing my artwork at the DIA has given me a platform where people from everywhere can show interest in the stories I have to tell.”
Juwand Barber (Senior, William D. Ford Career-Technical Center):
“To me it means a lot because this is my first year of real photography and I have a piece showing in the DIA, which is surreal to me. I’m very grateful that they recognized my piece as one good enough to go in the DIA.”
MiKyah Young (Senior, William D. Ford Career Technical Center):
“I think it’s good to have my work showed at the DIA because it shows my progress as an artist and it also helps me build confidence in myself as a person and in my work. It also gives me the understanding that my work isn’t just being looked and liked by my peers but also being in position for the world to see. It also allows me to see that art is whatever you make it. It doesn’t matter if it’s color, black or white, trees, people etc - it’s what you make it to be and the effort, determination, and creative thinking you add into it. I was able to define what I thought art was, not knowing bigger artists would like it and now it’s an amazing feeling knowing my art is at one of the best art museums ever.”
###
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 65,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art individually and with each other.
Programs are made possible with support from residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Follow the DIA on Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram. Subscribe to the DIA’s weekly email newsletter
Exhibition features artwork by students from 20 schools across Wayne County
June 22, 2022 (DETROIT) – The Detroit Institute of Arts presents the pilot Wayne County High School Student Art Show, featuring artwork created by high school students from throughout Wayne County. The show runs June 25 through July 31, 2022 and features over 80 works of art including photography, mixed media and paintings created by 60 students from 20 Wayne County high schools.
The inaugural student art show received over 150 entries and the selected pieces were juried by DIA educators. Students in grades 9-12 who attend public, charter, private or home school in Wayne County were eligible to enter.
“We are so excited to pilot this program and showcase the amazing work of these talented high school student artists in Wayne County,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA Director. “The Detroit Institute of Arts is a leader in education, and we are honored to provide an additional platform for young artists from the tri-counties to develop their creativity.”
The museum will host a special opening event to celebrate the show on Tuesday, June 28.
Wayne County Art Institute Authority member Renata Evans, who suggested the idea of a Wayne County Student Art Show, and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans will be in attendance.
“Wayne County has so much to offer by way of the arts, and the remarkable artistic talent of so many of our young people is a critical part of that rich culture. Beginning Saturday, June 25, more than 50 imaginative works created by Wayne County high school students will be on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts through July 31,’ said Warren Evans, Wayne County Executive. “The DIA has long been a crown jewel of Wayne County, and I am glad to see that the featured works of young local artists will be given the sort of high-level attention they deserve.”
When asked what it meant to have their work showcased at the DIA a few participating students shared their thoughts:
India Jackson (Senior, William D. Ford Career-Technical Center):
“To show my work at the DIA means that I have accomplished a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and for that, I am very grateful.”
Chrishani Pleasant (Senior, Mumford High School):
“Showing my work at the DIA is like saying my creativity matters. When I make my art, I make it for myself without anyone else in mind. But because I make it for myself, I start to think my art has no effect on anyone else. I get discouraged when I think my work is miniscule; that it doesn’t matter to anyone but myself. Showing my work at the DIA has strongly combatted this feeling. People come around and tell me how wonderful my art is, they show me how it makes them feel, and they always ask me what my artwork means. Showing my artwork at the DIA has given me a platform where people from everywhere can show interest in the stories I have to tell.”
Juwand Barber (Senior, William D. Ford Career-Technical Center):
“To me it means a lot because this is my first year of real photography and I have a piece showing in the DIA, which is surreal to me. I’m very grateful that they recognized my piece as one good enough to go in the DIA.”
MiKyah Young (Senior, William D. Ford Career Technical Center):
“I think it’s good to have my work showed at the DIA because it shows my progress as an artist and it also helps me build confidence in myself as a person and in my work. It also gives me the understanding that my work isn’t just being looked and liked by my peers but also being in position for the world to see. It also allows me to see that art is whatever you make it. It doesn’t matter if it’s color, black or white, trees, people etc - it’s what you make it to be and the effort, determination, and creative thinking you add into it. I was able to define what I thought art was, not knowing bigger artists would like it and now it’s an amazing feeling knowing my art is at one of the best art museums ever.”
###
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 65,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art individually and with each other.
Programs are made possible with support from residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Follow the DIA on Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram. Subscribe to the DIA’s weekly email newsletter