The Rain Barrel Art Project was created to promote the use of rain barrels throughout the Ohio River Valley area through a creative and educational medium. The Rain Barrel Art Project desires to educate people on environmental issues like stormwater runoff, watersheds and water conservation.

Rain barrels continue to grow in popularity across the country. However, one of its biggest drawbacks is its dull appearance. Some people are less likely to use them given their negative aesthetic impact on residential and commercial landscaping, even though they conserve water and save money. The “Save Local Waters” initiative believes that producing beautiful artistic rain barrels that have unique painted details will make them more desirable and naturally increase interest to promote their use.

This year, OHHS artists in Ms. Kopf’s and Ms. Schorsch’s Painting and Mixed Media created 4 Rain Barrels for this year’s event! Congratulations to all of the students who were selected by their peers to submit pieces for the jurying.

Completed Rain Barrels will be displayed at the Cincinnati Zoo from April 1st through 30th with the Online Auction and Artist Reception TBD.

Congratulations to Isabel Catron (11), Elena Fernading (9), Reagan Louis (10), Sophia Osborne (10) on the selection of their design by the “Save Local Waters” committee for this year’s event!

Students from the OHHS National Art Honor Society and Ms. Schorsch’s Drawing and Printmaking and Studio Art AP Drawing classes will be exhibiting work at the Cincinnati Art Museum! The Cincinnati Art Museum education staff worked with a committee of teen art enthusiasts to curate an exhibition of artworks addressing the theme of “Space”. Artists were invited to interpret and use their creative voice to address this theme in the media of their choice. The only parameter was that works submitted had to be 2-Dimensional and only 10 inches by 10 inches.

Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected to be physically displayed on the walls at the Teen Art Expo as a part of 100 pieces selected from around the city:

Olivia Burnett
Sophia Osborne
Scarlett Shorten
Leah Stolla
Patrick Thibodeaux

Congratulations to the following students whose work was accepted into the 10×10: Teen Art Expo as a part of the digital sideshow that will play throughout the Expo:

Chloe Meadows

The 10×10 Expo will be on display in the Great Hall at the Cincinnati Art Museum from May 6^th through May 9th, 2021. There will be a “Space” themed Costume party on Thursday May 6^th from 5:30-7:30. The party will be outdoors on Art Climb, located at the far end of the Cincinnati Art Museum parking lot. Art making, a costume contest and other fun activities will take place. Social distancing and masks are encouraged. 

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. Over the years, the Awards have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the nation’s largest source of scholarships for creative young artists and writers. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, John Updike, and many more.

Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literary-arts organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Gold Key Regional winners compete on the National level for Medalist Awards; only 1% were selected for a Medal. Samantha Bradley’s piece, “Practice”, was awarded a Silver Medal!

Congratulations to Scholastic Art Awards National Medalist Samantha Bradley!

The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition is dedicated to the educational and artistic advancement of our talented young people in the state of Ohio. The exhibition is open to all of Ohio’s 1,112 high schools, both public and private, chartered by the State of Ohio Department of Education. Their purpose is to provide all budding young artists of the state with opportunities to advance their talent, whether that be through scholarships or simply experiencing the process of entering their work in a competition. The exhibition is a valuable incentive for our young people; it encourages an appreciation for the arts throughout Ohio and reflects the fine quality of art instruction and talent which exists in our state.

Congratulations to the following OHHS Art and Design students whose work was selected from the regional level of judging to advance to the state level of judging for the 2021 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition.  

Henry Groh, “Pensivity”
Logan Jones, “Motel”
Flynn Koehler, “Child’s Play”
Sophia Osborne, “Dizzy in the Head”

Congratulations to the following OHHS Painting and Mixed Media students who were recently selected to exhibit as a part of the Young Artists (Children/Youth) responses to the SOS ART Retrospective (2016-2020) Exhibition:

Sam Bradley
Olivia Burnett
Anna Caito
Isabel Catron
Alyssa Christian
Sydney Dance
Chloe Doerger
Bailey Drummond
Kelsey Gallagher
Daphne Glazer
Gabby Hancock
Kailee Hebert
Nancy Insubrucker
Skylei James
Sarah Klems
Raegan Louis
Rain Magrum
Abby Marcum
Ally Martini
Jessica Miller
Lucy Rankin
Mia Schorsch
Sophia Weber

SOS ART’s Mission is to promote, encourage and provide venues for the arts as vehicles for Peace and Justice and for a Better World. A major educational goal of SOS ART is to engage children/youth in the process by exposing them to issues of peace and justice, informing them, triggering their thinking and involving them in a dialogue about the issues. The purpose is to help introduce and internalize values of peace and justice in children/youth through the arts. The arts will serve as a starting point to discuss such issues and also as a way to actively engage children/youth through their own creative process in addressing them.

SOS ART used the opportunity of the ongoing SOS ART Retrospective exhibit with all its included messages on peace and justice by 90 artists to engage children/youth to actively take a part in it and add their voice to it. Children/youth were offered 3 art-related activities to engage in while visiting the exhibit in person or remotely from the comfort of their home. For those who were interested, the product of their art activities is being shared here in this online gallery. Our hope is that they will help continue the dialogue and reflection.

To view the Student Exhibition, visit: https://sosartcincinnati.com/youth-art-sos-art-retrospective/. There are thumbnails of all the artworks submitted, each labeled with the artist’s name. Clicking on the thumbnail opens a page that has the image of the respective art piece with all its pertinent information. At the right and lower side of the page is a tab that allows, by clicking on it, to view a full size of the image; and at the bottom of the page is a comment case for the viewer to share thoughts, impressions, reflections, etc.