Logan Hosts Annual High School Art Exhibition and Writing Contest

John A. Logan College is currently hosting the 32nd annual High School Art Exhibition in its museum galleries throughout the College. The show is free and open to the general public and runs from March 17 to April 5. Viewing hours are 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

"All the high schools in the College district, including private schools were invited to submit artwork," said Adrienne Barkley Giffin, director of student activities and cultural events at Logan. "We have several beautiful, creative pieces on display. The exhibition is also a competition, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in O'Neil Auditorium on Friday, March 28, at 11 a.m."

First, second, and third place awards will be given in the following categories: drawing, painting, photography, computer art, other two-dimensional media, ceramics, sculpture, and other three-dimensional media. One piece will be designated Best in Show and receive a monetary prize of $100.

"The awards ceremony for the College's High School Writing Contest will be held in conjunction with the art awards," Giffin said. "We used to have two separate events, but we found that some of the students were involved in both contests so we decided to combine them."

This is the 29th year that Logan has held the writing contest, and high school students from throughout the district were asked to submit work in the following classifications: fiction, poetry, song lyrics, drama, personal essays, and research essays. Students could also submit a portfolio containing several samples of their writing.

"We've had about 500 entries in the competition, and they are of very high quality," said Matt Garrison, an English instructor at Logan who organized the event. "Awards will be given to works in each of the six genres, and the student whose portfolio is judged the best will receive a $500 scholarship to Logan. This year we're also having a guest speaker. An hour before the awards ceremony (10 a.m.), Pinckney Benedict, a published author and English professor at SIU, will perform a reading of his fiction. I think that's something the audience will really enjoy."

For more information about the art exhibition or writing contest, contact the Office of Student Activities and Cultural Events at 618-985-2828 or 618-457-7676, Ext. 8287.