Elmhurst College exhibit celebrates high school artists

Elmhurst College is celebrating young artists and public school art programs from across the Chicago area by sponsoring its 21st annual High School Exhibition, which began Saturday, Jan. 11, and will run through Jan. 26.

Every January, the entire space of the Founders Lounge in the school's Frick Center at 190 Prospect Ave. is hung from floor to ceiling with artwork created by students from 10 high schools.

The exhibition will feature hundreds of paintings, prints, sculptures, videos and computer art, and works in other media.

"There are so many very talented high school students taking part in this exhibition," said Suellen Rocca, director of exhibits at Elmhurst College, adding that each year a large crowd attends the reception for the participating artists. The high schools represented in the exhibit are Addison Trail, East Leyden, West Leyden, Lyons Township, Maine West, Morton East, Proviso West, Willowbrook and York.

Awards and a $2,000 renewable scholarship will be presented to students from each high school. During a reception that celebrates the artists featured in the exhibition, students can take a tour of the college's art department.

The artists' reception will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the Founders Lounge. Both 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 is presenting this academic year in three campus venues.

For details, call Suellen Rocca at (630) 617-6110 or email srocca@elmhurst.edu.