Emerson, Maine South Students Rub Elbows at Art Gallery

With their paintings framed and their photos matted under glass, seventy-three art students from Maine South High School got to show off their works at a gallery reception Thursday evening.

Art teachers selected works to appear in the Maine South Art Awards Show, held at the Brickton Art Center, 306 Busse Highway, Park Ridge. 

"It's typically our senior awards show--where we recognize talented students who have worked hard all year," said Deb Newberg, who teaches photography and digital imaging at Maine South. "It's our chance to show them off since we don't have a show at the school."

For the first time, the show included works from 18 younger kids at Emerson and Lincoln Middle Schools in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, most of whom will someday attend Maine South.

Parents and students sampled cheese and cookies as they walked around to look at the watercolors, acrylics, drawings, photographs and a few sculptures.

Alyssa Kulak, the executive director of Brickton Art Center, said the center partners with the high school to mount the show, all for the purpose of supporting young artists.

Brickton is a non-profit organization which provides outreach in art education and therapy. 

The exhibit will continue daily except Sundays until May 27.