A celebration of creativity is taking center stage at Mount St. Joseph University (5701 Delhi Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45233), where student artists from Milford High School and other schools across the Tri-State have been invited to showcase their work in a professional gallery setting. Organized by the Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA), the "Celebrate Youth Art Month" exhibition provides young artists with a platform to share their talent and passion with the community.
March marks Youth Art Month, a nationwide initiative dedicated to advocating for the arts in education and recognizing the dedication of student artists and their teachers. For Milford High School’s Adrian Hawk, who teaches Drawing and Painting as well as Sculpture, the month serves as an important reminder of the impact of art education.
"Different teachers celebrate it in different ways," Hawk explained. "At the elementary level, some art teachers incorporate activities into their curriculum, and in the past, we’ve done spirit weeks with art-related themes leading up to our annual art show."
This year, Hawk played a key role in organizing Milford's participation in the OAEA exhibition by coordinating with her student teacher, Maddie, who took the lead in selecting and preparing the artwork for submission.
The exhibition is a new addition to the region’s art scene, hosted in a collegiate gallery space at Mount St. Joseph.
"This is the first time something like this has been done in our region, and it’s really cool to have it in a collegiate setting," Hawk said.
With so many talented student artists at Milford, narrowing down selections for the exhibition was no easy task.
"We looked at the effort students put into their pieces and selected works that really stood out and exemplified their skills and creativity," Hawk shared.
A total of 11 Milford students were chosen for the exhibit, including one whose work was selected twice by different teachers—an accidental but well-deserved recognition of their talent. "It just goes to show how impressive their work is!" said Hawk.
One of the featured artists, senior Aiden J., is particularly excited about the opportunity. His selected piece, a concert photograph, holds special significance as it was taken when he first started exploring photography.
"I'm really big on music and photography, so the two kind of met in this piece," Aiden shared. "It's still one of my favorites."
Another Milford student, junior Delaney G., also had her work selected for the exhibit. Her piece, a photograph of a child sitting on a wall by the Ohio River during the Adventure Crew River Swim event, captures a moment of quiet observation.
The photo was originally posted on her Instagram, where her teachers discovered it and decided it was a strong contender for the exhibit.
"Being in something this big gives me a head start over others, since I still have time to build my portfolio and gain more experience before college."
Like Aiden, Delaney is eager to visit the exhibit in person. "I’m really excited to go see it," she said. "I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without Miss Cohen and Mr. Luessen."
MHS senior Annalise H. is another student who chose to submit a photograph instead of a drawing or sculpture.
Freshman Nicoli H. is another Milford student whose artwork will be featured. Her drawing, centered around the theme of "traveling," holds a deep personal connection, as she immigrated from Moldova when she was younger.
"Traveling has a lot of significance for me since I moved from another country," Nicoli explained. "I thought it would be meaningful to make it my word."
Freshman Kaidance T. also has her work featured in the exhibit. Her piece, titled "Pomme"—French for "apple"—was selected from her class assignment. "Apples symbolize love, beauty, and wisdom. I love them, and they’re good for you," Kaidance explained.
Both freshman students had similar stylized word drawings from a class assignment selected in the exhibit.
Hawk believes this exhibition could serve as a valuable stepping stone for students interested in pursuing art beyond high school. Many of the selected students already have aspirations for careers in the arts, and this experience could provide the encouragement they need to take the next step.
A special Opening Reception will be held on Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. The "Celebrate Youth Art Month" exhibit will close on March 27. Check out a few highlighted examples of what you'll find in the gallery!
