WHEELING — Oglebay Institute fosters and celebrates the talent and creativity of young artists. The 35th annual Regional Student Art Exhibition is on display at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling through Feb. 9.

The exhibit provides high school students the opportunity to display their artwork in a professional gallery, see what other students are doing in the world of art, and collaborate and get feedback from art teachers, college professors, and other students from throughout the region. The show is part of Oglebay Institute’s art exhibition season, which is sponsored by United Bank.

Fourteen high schools from three states and seven counties are represented in this year’s show. Schools include Bridgeport High School, John Marshall High School, Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Union Local High School, Martins Ferry High School, Bellaire High School, Wheeling Park High School, Brooke High School, Avella High School, The Linsly School, River High School, St. Clairsville High School, and Oak Glen High School. Homeschool students also participated in the show.

More than 300 pieces were submitted and 122 were selected for the exhibit after being juried by Georgette Stock.

Award winners are as follows:

Best of Show: Rachel Edinger, The Linsly School, for her work “Grandma’s Yellow Dress in Summer 1936.”

Painting: First Place, Rachel Edinger, The Linsly School; Second Place, Julianna Walters, Wheeling Park; Third Place, Cam Harris, Brooke High School.

Sculpture: First Place, Angelina Dubiel, Home school; Second Place, Norah Blecher, Union Local; Third Place, Zara Harveth, Bellaire.

Mixed Media: First Place, Emily Tenley, River; Second Place, Katherine Anderson, Brooke; Third Place, Landen Frame, Brooke.

Photography: First Place, Makeyla Marlin, Bellaire; Second Place, Allie Ault, Bellaire; Third Place, Kyleigh Leach, Union Local.

Drawing: First Place, Kassie Gorby, Oak Glen; Second Place, Baylee Huml, Union Local; Third Place, Savannah Springer, Union Local.

Digital: First Place, Jessica Nissley, The Linsly School; Second Place, Annalise Johnson, The Linsly School; Third Place, Kylah Florio, Martins Ferry.

Honorable Mentions: Ella Everson, St. Clairsville; Kristin Savage, Martins Ferry; Kathryn Smitsky, Avella; Jake Henry, River.

Regional colleges also award scholarships each year in conjunction with Oglebay Institute’s Regional Student Art Show. West Virginia University made a scholarship offers to Ella Everson of St. Clairsville High School. West Liberty University presented a scholarship offer to Kassie Gorby of Oak Glen High School.

“As a former high school arts teacher, being a part of this show was a great honor,” said Oglebay Institute curator of exhibitions Kevin Clancy. “The caliber of work being produced in the valley is a testament to both the teachers we have and the students they are cultivating. I’m so pleased that the arts are doing well in and around my home and I hope to continue to highlight the successes of our students and educators into the future.”

“The work exhibited in these galleries truly illustrates the artistic collaboration and dedication occurring between educators and their students,” Stock said in her juror’s statement. “For centuries artists have learned from artists, educators have learned from educators and these galleries are a classroom for such an experience. I congratulate all whose art is being exhibited, as your art represents approximately half of the submissions submitted for consideration. You are showing well.”

When jurying the work, Stock said she took into consideration criteria used by the College Board. Criteria includes investigation of visual concepts; decision making in terms of experimentation and risk taking; originality, imagination, and invention using the elements and principles of design in composition; work that illustrates intention and purpose; confident work that engages the viewer, technical competence and skill with materials and media; understanding of the use of digital or photographic sources; appropriation and the student “voice;” and overall accomplishment and quality.

Stock holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts management, with an emphasis in studio art from the former Wheeling College, now Wheeling University, and a master’s degree in art history from the University of Cincinnati. She managed and served as creative consultant and manager of her family businesses Jay’s Studio and Jay Stock’s Gallery until 2008. She also taught at served as art department chair at Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy until The Mount closed in 2008. She served on the faculty of Bethany College teaching watercolor, three-dimensional design, and art history from 2007-12, and was on the faculty of Wheeling Jesuit University and Wheeling University from 2014-22 in the teacher preparation program, educating future teachers on how to integrate art across the curriculum through a variety of artistic mediums. In 2011 and 2012 she served as an AP Studio Art Reader for the College Board.

The 35th Annual Regional Student Art Exhibition can be viewed free of charge now through Feb. 9 at Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1330 National Road, Wheeling. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Evening hours are dependent on classes and special events taking place. For more information, visit oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.

The annual exhibit is open to students in grades 9-12 within a 50-mile radius of Wheeling. Award winners receive ribbons along with cash prizes. The show is part of the 2023-24 exhibition season, which is sponsored by United Bank.