Daemen’s Visual and Performing Arts department hosted its opening event for the 57th annual All High Art Exhibition on Saturday, February 8, in the Tower Gallery in the Nancy Haberman Gacioch Center for Visual & Performing Arts, during which $26,000 in Daemen scholarships were awarded to high school students whose work was on display.
Visual and Performing Arts faculty awarded annual scholarships across a variety of categories, including Best in Show, $3,000; Best Animation, $2,000; Best Graphic Design, $2,000; Best Illustration, $2,000; Best Painting, $2,000; Best Photography, $2,000; Best Print, $2,000; Best 3D Work, $2,000; and nine Honorable Mentions, $1,000.
In addition, three junior scholarships were awarded for first place, $1,000; second place, $750; and third place, $500.
“All High is a remarkable opportunity to celebrate the artistic talents of area high school students,” said Dan Shanahan, Chair, Visual and Performing Arts department. “By organizing and supporting All High, Daemen faculty in the VPA provide an important platform for the next generation of artists to share their talents with the broader community. The success of this event is also a testament to the strong relationship Daemen has with high school educators who work so hard to support their students. This event would not be possible without the generous support of Daemen University in providing competitive scholarships to participating students.”
Over 50 submissions from high scho
ols in Western New York and surrounding areas were entered across all categories.
“The artwork submitted for this annual exhibition truly exemplifies the depth of creativity, technical skill, and conceptual thought that the students bring to their practice,” said Heather T. Putney, Assistant Professor of Practice for Visual Arts Education. “It is inspiring to see such diverse and powerful artistic voices emerge and have them honored in a distinguished academic setting that fosters the power of the Visual Arts.”
The exhibition was adjudicated by esteemed leaders and distinguished professionals within the arts industry.
“Selecting the student winners was an incredibly challenging task due to the outstanding caliber of work submitted,” added Ashley Tinkey, Professor of Animation, All High Judge. “Each piece demonstrated a remarkable level of artistry and dedication, making the decision-making process both rewarding and difficult.”