MCC art exhibit includes work from CCS seniors

    The McCook Community College (MCC) art department’s annual high school art exhibition is up and running with more than 200 works from area high school students displayed at the Wrightstone Fine Arts Gallery on the  campus.
    Included in the show are pieces by CCS art students, said art teacher Chelsea Zuege.
    Seniors displaying work include Charles Barnes, Chloe Soltis, Kora Weiss, Valerie Dietz, Kambree Meeske, Hope Brosius, Lindsey Mendenhall, Luiz Gonzalez and Ryley Vrbas, Zuege said.
    This exhibition will be open to the public now through the annual paint-in competition Friday, April 16.
    The exhibit is open to the public and admission is free. The Wrightstone Gallery is open from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, and until 9 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Thursday.
    Art students from 30 area high schools were invited to this year’s event.
    MCC art instructor Rick Johnson said the show and the paint-in have become an integral part of his spring calendar and over the years it has allowed him to meet, recruit and teach many talented area high school artists.
    For this year’s paint-in exhibition, students could enter up to five pieces and each school was limited to 40 works. Entries are divided into seven categories: painting, drawing, prints, mixed media, three-dimensional, pottery and digital work/photography.
    One best of show trophy will be awarded from the works now on display. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in each category, along with one judges choice award.
    Trophies will be awarded for the paint-in competition.
    For the paint-in competition, the college will require students, staff and instructors to observe the social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines set by the college for the competition.
    The paint-in will take place in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT
    The judge for this year’s paint-in will be Danley Walkington, an MCC art alum who has just received her BFA and is pursuing an MFA.
    The paint-in theme will be announced the morning of the competition.
    Zuege said CCS seniors in art classes will compete in the paint-in for CCS.