LCSD1 Art Show at LCCC an inspiring opportunity for students

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – In a vibrant showcase of young talent, the Laramie County School District 1 High School Art Show at Laramie County Community College is set to present an array of student artworks, bridging creativity and community engagement this March.

The show, a collaboration between LCCC and LCSD1, will be on display 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Esther and John Clay Fine Art Gallery Mar. 4-28. A reception is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Mar. 21. The gallery and reception are free and open to the public. 

Students from East, Central, South, and Triumph high schools will have work on display, representing those who have already taken preparatory courses and are producing advanced art pieces.

“It is truly a reflection of our most advanced classes and our most advanced students,” said Steve Knox, an East High School art teacher. “We work hard on learning new skills, and then to put it into work and to make a finished piece that is displayed at a professional-style gallery — it's pretty special.” 

In its third year, the show includes all kinds of art media, from 2D to 3D to digital. It’s a remarkable opportunity for the students to share their work with audiences outside school district shows, said Sara Wilson, a Triumph High School art teacher. The process of preparing for and participating in the show is beneficial on multiple levels, she said. 

“Getting to meet the other students who were selected and see their artworks hanging together is inspiring to the students,” Wilson said. “Helping hang the art show and attending the evening reception also bring the experience of the show closer to how it would be participating in a professional art show.”   

The exhibition is the LCCC’s Art Department’s biggest recruiting event of the year. Wilson said she has students preparing for the show who are hoping to attend LCCC next year to pursue art degrees. Connecting with faculty at the college while also showcasing the campus art environment is a powerful way to connect students with productive postsecondary paths.

“There have been a lot of conversations about the process of applying for college and what the future holds that I don't think would have happened had they not been getting their work ready for the show,” Wilson said. 

In addition to those opportunities, LCCC will be offering select students scholarships, making the possibility of pursuing a higher education more real. 

“The fact that there is an opportunity to go to LCCC and there’s money available for it, and that opens their eyes to the idea of college,” Knox said.

The High School Art Show has in its duration brought in hundreds of visitors to the college who are excited to see the high-level work being produced by LCSD1 students. For the students, Knox said seeing others enjoying their art highlights the importance of creative pursuits. 

“It brings home the idea that, yes, art and being creative are important,” Knox said. “They understand there’s a purpose behind it.” 

For more information about the LCSD1 High School Art Show, contact Daniel Maw at dmaw@lccc.wy.edu or 307.432.1692.