Beginning in 2012, the Red Chair Gallery has invited the area high schools to participate in their yearly Emerging Artists show held each April. Trying to figure out exactly how the show would look was a challenge at first, but now this show has become a favorite of parents, students and the entire community.
Bend, Mountain View and Sisters High Schools have participated from the beginning and 2016 will be the second time for Summit High School. It is a credit to all of the instructors with their overwhelming schedules to be able to squeeze in yet another event for the students to participate in. Jesse Lockwood from Bend High has his students work on projects with this particular show in mind. Something they worked on this year was to create work inspired by lyrics of a song that held meaning for them.
2015 was the start of the Student Intern program. While the original purpose of the Emerging Artists show was to give students a real world experience in the selection and sale of their artwork, the intern program has taken this a step further.
Students that are interested submit essays about why they want to be an Intern and based on the essays, one from each school is chosen to participate. Interns for 2016 include Felix Anderson of Bend High, Kelsey Leighton of Mountain View and Chara Gardemann of Summit.
With input from 2015’s interns the program has been massaged to include jurying of art from a school other than their own, work shifts at Red Chair, workshops offered by Red Chair members, Emerging Artists show set and tear down and assistance to the instructors for show prep as needed.
Juried works from each school must be available for sale, properly displayed and available through the Gallery during April with the same guidelines that all member artists must adhere to. People’s Choice and Artists Choice awards are voted on during First Friday celebrations with gift certificates provided to winners from Blick Art Supplies and the Red Chair Gallery.
First Friday celebrations will be held on Friday, April 1 with a student/guest period from 4:30-5pm and regular First Friday event from 5-9pm.
redchairgallerybend.com