The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, now in its forty-sixth year, 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. Our 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 exist in our state.

The process of selecting artworks for the state exhibition begins on a regional level. The state is divided into 15 regional locations, with high school students in each region invited to enter work in that regional judging. The state judging takes place in Columbus; however, the judges for this level of competition are chosen from all over the country and are generally professional artists, college level instructors, or both.

From the 11,500 regional entries from the 15 regions, approximately 2,500 are selected to enter the state judging. State jurors then select 300 for the actual exhibition, with 25 of the 300 chosen to receive the Governor’s Award of Excellence. Scholarships are offered to seniors by over 30 universities and colleges of art. The selection of students to be offered scholarships is left strictly up to those institutions who offer them.

Congratulations to Taylor Helms, whose work was selected at the state judging for the 2016 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition!

Taylor’s artwork will be on display April 17 – May 19, 2016, Weekdays 8am – 5pm, at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio.

OHHS Art and Design is represented in the recent edition of “Venue” magazine, a Greater Cincinnati Lifestyle and Event Guide! In the Fall of 2015 OHHS Art and Design teacher Jamie Schorsch was selected by AIC College of Design and “Venue” magazine to receive recognition as an exceptional high school art teacher at their “Stand Up for the Arts 2016” event. Ms. Schorsch selected 3 outstanding OHHS Art and Design students for recognition for their achievements at accomplishments at the event on November 21st, 2015, all of whom will be offered a $6,000 scholarship to AIC College of Design.

Read the full article in the latest issue of “Venue” and check out some of the spread here!

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It’s about to start raining barrels in Studio 213 at OHHS! Ms. Schorsch’s Painting and Mixed Media students were recently charged with the task of designing artworks to be painted on rain barrels for this year’s event with Save Local Waters and the Cincinnati Zoo. Students voted in class on which designs would be submitted and 7 were selected by the judges working with the project!

Below is the mission of the Rain Barrel Art Project through Save Local Waters:

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

The Rain Barrel Art Project desires to educate people on environmental issues like storm water runoff, watersheds and water conservation”.

Congratulations to the following students whose designs were selected:

Once completed, the Rain Barrels will be on display at the Cincinnati Zoo from April 4th-April 21st. All Rain Barrels will be auctioned off on April 21st!