COD exhibit highlights high school artists

High school students will have the opportunity next month to display their artwork at the third annual "Walk This Way" exhibit at the College of DuPage.

The exhibit runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the McAninch Arts Center on the College's main campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn.

During the exhibit, students from high schools throughout DuPage will display their work in a wide range of styles and media, including ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. Prizes will be awarded.

According to art professor David Ouellette, the event provides a great opportunity for young artists to gain recognition for the value of their work.

"College of DuPage created this event to celebrate and support young, up-and-coming artists," Ouellette said. "Through this exhibit, high school students get the opportunity to display their work and receive feedback from college-level art professors. In addition, they learn about their options for pursuing a career in art and see what College of DuPage has to offer."

Ouellette added that the exhibit also enables the college to strengthen its connection with the community on an artistic level.

"The college has a long-standing history of engagement with the community in support of the arts," he said. "'Walk This Way' provides us with another opportunity to extend our passion for art into the community, as well as showcase our newly renovated facilities."

The renovations to the McAninch Arts Center include updates to the center's three performance spaces, a new outdoor patio stage, improvements to the infrastructure and patron service areas and the addition of the 1,850 square-foot Cleve Carney Art Gallery.

For information on "Walk This Way," email Ouellette at ouelletted@cod.edu or Mara Baker at bakerm@cod.edu.