High Art 2023 ELEMENTAL Exhibition: May 16 – June 1
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Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony: Wed, May 17 from 6:30-8pm
Free and open to all Attleboro Arts Museum 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA
Fourteen Massachusetts high schools will brave the elements and showcase installation art at the Attleboro Arts Museum’s annual High Art exhibition held in-gallery from May 16 – June 1, 2023. High Art connects teens with artists both past and present, fosters the creation of original artworks, and provides a professional forum for students to voice their creativity and work collaboratively.
This year’s High Art theme of ELEMENTAL will feature exciting installations that consider the periodic table, the 7 elements of art, the power of nature, the origin of astrology and more! Elemental – at its core – describes the building blocks of life from human connections to the basics of all existing matter – earth, air, fire and water.
As the world twists and turns around us, these essential principles hold an energy that can ground us in times of chaos and unrest. “Visitors will discover the ancient Babylonian gate, explore environmental concerns regarding humankind’s impact on nature and vice versa, witness the aftereffects of a natural disaster andeven ponder things that are elemental to an individual,” comments Abby Rovaldi, AAM Programs Coordinator and High Art Exhibition Curator.
“This year, Norton students addressed the theme on two levels, exploring both the elemental motif and the problem solving required by the physicality of the concrete elements of form, texture, and surface. Students integrated foraged birds’ nests and bittersweet roots while also resourcing the commonplace, as with the paper towels that serve as the primary surface foundation,” remarks Dr. Todd Kefor, Norton High School Art Educator.
Teams of students have been working since the start of the school year, with nine months of planning, trouble shooting and building culminating into the artworks on display.
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Each participating high school team is unique. Some teams are made up of entire or multiple classrooms of students, others are dedicated after-school art clubs, groups of students handpicked by their art instructors, or enthusiastic individuals who formed their own art squad, all with the focus of working towards a united goal.
Collaborative creative problem solving is a key skill for students to cultivate at the high school level. High Art provides the opportunity for instructors to extend their curriculum beyond the classroom and give students a real-world application of their art education.
The Attleboro Arts Museum is pleased to welcome a new high school to High Art this year – Barnstable High School.
“We are excited to participate in High Art. This was my students first experience creating an art installation that required brainstorming ideas, developing concepts, and executing them as a team. Through this collaborative process, students not only learned valuable technical skills, but also developed important soft skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving. It was fun to see the piece come to life from sketches and paintings that touched on the theme, into a cohesive artwork that can engage an audience from many perspectives,” remarks Filipe Miguel.
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Barnstable High School Art Educator. Artist, Steven Wiseman of Norton, MA has been invited to serve as juror for the exhibition.
Wiseman will assign the following Awards – Best in Show; Second Place; Third Place; Honorable Mention and select Merit Awards.
These awards will be announced at the Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony held in-gallery on Wed, May 17from 6:30-8pm.
Free and open to all.
Visitors of the High Art Exhibition will be asked to cast their People’s Choice Award ballot by using either a QR Code reader or a computer terminal in the Museum’s gallery that connects to a Google Form. Virtual People’s Choice Award votes will be collected throughout the course of the exhibit – with the award given to the top school after the exhibition has concluded on June 1at 4pm.
Participating High Schools:
• Attleboro High School
• Barnstable High School
• Bishop Feehan High School
• Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School
• Dover-Sherborn Regional High School
• King Philip Regional High School
• Mansfield High School
• New Bedford High School
• Norton High School
• Norwood High School
• Seekonk High School
• Sharon High School
• Silver-Lake Regional High School
• Taunton High School
Gary Lavoie, owner of Footworks Inc. in Attleboro, MA has been High Art’s sole Title Sponsor for seventeen consecutive years.
High Art is also supported by the following generous sponsors: Jerry’s Artarama of Providence, RI; The Preservation Framer of North Attleboro, MA; Reeves Company Inc. of Attleboro, MA and the Local Cultural Councils of Attleboro, Mansfield, Norton, Norwood, Raynham, Seekonk, Sharon and Taunton.
These Cultural Councils are local agencies funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. To learn about participating in the 2024 High Art exhibition please call 508-222-2644 x15 or email office@attleboroartsmuseum.org.
Admission to the Attleboro Arts Museum is free; donations are always appreciated.
Wheelchair & stroller accessible.
Museum Hours through May26: Tues – Sat, 10am – 5pm.
Summer Hours starting May 30: Tues – Sat, 10am – 4pm. Closed Saturday, May 27,2023.
At A Glance:
High Art Exhibition 2023 Theme: ELEMENTAL Exhibition: May 16 – June 1, 2023 Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony: Wed, May 17 from 6:30 – 8pm. • Live piano music from Mark Taber. Sponsored by the Ray Conniff Foundation.
• Free and open to all
Juror: Artist, Steven Wiseman People’s Choice Votes:
• Collected from May 16 – June 1, 2023.
• Winner will be announced on the Museum’s website(www.attleboroartsmuseum.org) and social media pages on June1 by 5pm.
Attleboro Arts Museum:
The Attleboro Arts Museum involves audiences of all ages and backgrounds in the visual arts through diverse educational programs and engaging arts experiences. We work to support the creative and artistic development of both promising and professional artists. The Museum is a privately supported, non-profit arts institution whose core commitment to Arts for Everyone guides the Museum’s programs and operations.
Contact: Abby Rovaldi Museum Programs Coordinator & High Art Exhibition Curator Attleboro Arts Museum 86 Park Street Attleboro, MA 02703 tele: 508.222.2644 x15
email: arovaldi@attleboroartsmuseum.org
www.attleboroartsmuseum.org