Daemen University’s annual All High Art Weekends, a celebration of artwork by local high school students, will feature two events in February.
First, the All High Art Exhibition opens Feb. 11 and will include submissions from high school juniors and seniors in the Elizabeth C. and Peter Tower Gallery on campus.
From painters to illustrators to photographers, the event gives students the opportunity to exhibit their work with a chance to be selected for one of 23 awards. This includes $26,000 in Daemen scholarships across nine categories that are renewed annually, provided the student receiving the scholarship maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Up to 70 students will be chosen to exhibit their work.
Philip Longson, All High Art Weekends chair and assistant professor of illustration in Daemen’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department, said the exhibition enables students to show their work in a different context.
“Our All High Art Exhibition exposes students and their work to dozens of other artists, creating a larger sense of community they may not have experienced before,” explained Longson. “It is important for these students as they develop their talents, and a great opportunity for the community to see up-and-coming young artists all in one place.”
Robert Waterhouse, VPA department chair and associate professor of theatre, said the annual exhibition has been a staple at Daemen for over 50 years. “It is, in every sense, a celebration of the work of art teachers in our high schools as well as a new generation of young artists. It is as much a celebration of the teachers as it is of the student artists themselves.”
The second of Daemen’s All High Art Weekends events is Portfolio Day, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, giving high school students an opportunity to sign up for one-on-one sessions with Daemen faculty. These faculty members will review their work, talk about their portfolios, and offer professional feedback.
High school students interested in pursuing a career in design, illustration, animation, or studio arts have a chance to win a college scholarship based on the strength of their portfolio, academic potential, personal character, and leadership traits.
Two scholarships of $5,000, renewed annually if the student maintains a GPA above 3.0, will be awarded as part of Portfolio Day.
“The All High Art Weekends are equally exciting for Daemen faculty members as we gain a firsthand look at young artists in Western New York,” said Longson. “The talent of local students is always remarkable.”
While the Feb. 11 All High Art Exhibition opening is by invitation only, the exhibition will be open to the public thereafter. Student submissions are due by Feb. 3 and the sign-up deadline for Portfolio Day is Feb. 22.