College Amenities

ABOUT the HIGH SCHOOL SHOW
Exhibition: Feb. 11 - 27, 2025
Reception: Feb. 13 @ 7PM 

This year’s submissions highlight the creativity of the students along with the passion and dedication of their teachers. For example, Eagle Butte High School art teacher Kameko Ballantyne inspired students to explore still life, surrealism, self-portraits, and organic forms. “Each project encouraged them to experiment with a variety of mediums, fostering creativity and building confidence in new techniques,” said Kameko.

Crescent Heights High School art teacher Lauren Grover described how students “embarked on a variety of projects this semester to refine and cultivate their unique personal art styles.” Likening the creative process to a journey, she explained how experimentation, self-reflection, and exploration helps students “discover their authentic creative voice.” Similarly, art students at Monsignor McCoy High School were inspired to develop their own unique focus, working within the parameters of creative prompts developed by Art teacher Amber Hamilton.

At Medicine Hat High School, each student was encouraged to follow their own creative path. Art teacher Jeremy Koutsky’s upper-level students focused on independent projects in painting and mixed media, with themes ranging from family to pop culture to social commentary. Art teacher Ryan Massini’s beginning students undertook foundational studies in drawing and painting, including careful copies of paintings by famous artists like Vincent van Gogh and Pieter Bruegel. While originality is the ultimate goal, analyzing and copying master works is a great way for beginners to learn about art history while honing their technique.

Many submissions go beyond traditional art materials. For example, Crescent Heights High School’s Digital Arts and Media teacher Donna Armstrong worked with students to create digital designs which were printed onto t-shirts, highlighting the functional aspect of design. At MHHS, Digital Arts students created work ranging from photography, videography and animation to raster and vector art. Digital Arts teacher Allison Knodel explained, “our focus at MHHS in Digital Arts is to find what area of the course they love most, lock in on that passion… and eventually start refining their skills.” What a great description of the creative process!

For the Art and Design program at MHC, the High School Show is an exciting opportunity to see what young people are thinking about and referencing in their creative work. For the participating students, it’s an opportunity to see their work in the context of a professional gallery space, and to get to know more about our program. Hopefully some of these talented students will join us at MHC in the coming years!

I want to take this opportunity to offer my admiration and thanks to the participating teachers:

• Allison Knodel, Jeremy Koutsky, and Ryan Massini at Medicine Hat High School
• Lauren Grover and Donna Armstrong at Crescent Heights High School
• Kameko Ballantyne at Eagle Butte High School
• Amber Hamilton at Monsignor McCoy High School

Hope to see you at the show! The gallery is open to the public Mon-Fri 8:30AM - 4:00PM. 

Jessica Plattner,
Art & Design Program Coordinator

Download Calendar (pdf)