Bakersfield Californian: First Friday Celebrates Young Artists
Everything feels fresh and new in the spring, so it's a perfect time for a display of student art. For First Friday, Metro Galleries will display the works from the 30th annual "An Artistic Discovery" Congressional Art Competition.
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy will be on hand at Friday's reception to honor the young artists who competed in the annual event. The competition was open to students from 12 high schools in the 22nd Congressional District, which includes part of Kern, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles counties.
The overall winner among the 70 entries is 15-year-old Christiana Kallemeyn for her work "Imagination Soars." Created under the direction of her Grace Christian Academy art teacher Alicia Garver, the colored pencil work features Kallmeyn's father and two cousins reading a book with colorful birds in the background. The congressman had only praise for the artists and the competition.
"The Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to encourage artistic expression in our communities," McCarthy said. "I am continually impressed by the incredible talent and creativity of our young people, and am proud of every artist who entered a piece."
Kallemeyn will be invited to attend the exhibit opening of "An Artistic Discovery" in Washington, D.C., on June 22 with her parents, Dennis and Tina Kallemeyn. Her artwork will be displayed in the corridor leading to the U.S. Capitol for a period of one year. As the overall winner, she will also receive three round-trip tickets to the exhibit opening, as well as a cash award to be presented at the district reception.
Awards will also be presented to those students who placed first, second, third or received an honorable mention in the categories of photography, computer-generated art and all other mediums. In addition, all winners will have the option of displaying their artwork in McCarthy's Washington office for one year.
Also on display Friday
"Sweet 16" at The Foundry: The sweets-themed exhibit, which benefits Teen Challenge, opens Friday. Reception guests will have the opportunity to vote for the artwork they think best fits the "sweets" theme.
Mike Barker at Farmacy Cafe: The local contemporary artist's works are still on display at the Padre Hotel's coffeeshop.
"Modernism, '60s, Pop, Vera, '70s, Swank, Palm Springs in the '60s" at Bossanova Studios: Gallery owner and artist Johnny Ramos will display a new series of abstract and floral paintings.
Lila Martin at the BAA Art Center: The Bakersfield Art Association's Art Center will host a reception for Lila Martin's show "The World Through My Eyes." The exhibit focuses on scenes from her travels to France and Italy as well as her many trips to Mexico, Spain and Scotland.
Norma Eaton at Dagny's: View the collage landscapes of Norma Eaton, and meet the artist to learn more about her unusual approach to collage, using painted papers.