'There's No Place Like Home'

KELLOGG — Mullan, Kellogg and Wallace high schools proudly presented a collaborative art exhibit showcasing the diverse talents of their combined 77 art students at the Broken Wheel Restaurant in Kellogg this past Tuesday.

“Two years ago, when the University of Idaho stopped doing their annual High School Art Exhibition, Katie Lund and I had the idea to have our own locally,” said Kellogg High School Art Teacher Rachael Krusemark. “It had been something the students looked forward to every year because they liked the challenge of making art based on one prompt.”

Krusemark continued that it can be fun to see different artists interpret the same theme and the added competition.

“We were really happy to see Mullan join us this year,” Krusemark said.

The theme for this year’s exhibit was “There’s No Place Like Home.”

“We chose this theme because we were interested in learning more about our student’s perspectives of home. We talked about how “home” might be a place. But it could also be an idea or feeling. It is fun to see the various ways that individual students interpret the theme,” said Wallace High School Art Teacher Kate Lund.

Lund continued that she hopes this event connects the communities of the Silver Valley through art and that they wish to further the communities’ interest in the arts and share the students’ talents.

“Besides connecting the communities of the valley,” Krusemark said. “It connects generations. It was so great to see students there with not only their parents but their grandparents.”

She continued that the show also connected the schools — teachers, students and administrators.

“The students love seeing their teachers and administrator outside of school, especially at an event they have poured their hearts into,” Krusemark said.

The Broken Wheel was selected as the venue and committed to displaying the works of art for not just the night of the show, but for the next few weeks as well.

“The Broken Wheel is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, allowing students and families to return and enjoy the exhibition. We are so appreciative of everything that the staff of the Broken Wheel did to accommodate us,” Lund said.

Because the exhibit is a collaboration between the west and east end of the valley, next year’s collaboration will likely be on the east end.

“We have truly enjoyed collaborating on this event the past two years, so we definitely plan to keep it going,” Lund said. “This year we saw people who attended last year as well as some new faces, so we are excited that the event is gaining momentum.”

Lund continued that the teachers emphasize to the students that it is a valuable experience to show your work outside from school. Students had to follow through with their approach, plan for the theme, and take steps to make their artwork gallery ready and then finally share their artwork with a larger audience.

“This experience develops skills after high school like meeting deadlines, connecting with an audience and writing for a publication,” Lund said.

The show will remain open until April 15 during the business hours of The Broken Wheel, located at 102 E. Cameron Ave. in Kellogg and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“A big thank you to the community members who put in their own time to jury the artworks and select award winners,” Lund said.

The winners are as follows:

BEST IN SHOW: “Alfred Eugene Hunter” by Kyanna Parks (Wallace)

2ND PLACE: “The Memory of a Miner” by Kaci Finlay (Kellogg)

3RD PLACE: “Where the Heart Is” by Maya Cameron (Kellogg)

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

“My Great Outdoors” by Kadimay Hart (Kellogg)

“The Residence” by Kayla Hasz (Wallace)

“A Bitter Eulogy” by Keegan Smith (Kellogg)

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: "Alfred Eugene Hunter" by Kyanna Parks (Wallace)