After a long cold winter It’s time to warm up with the creative embers of Tyrone High School’s very talented student artists. They’ve been planning, sketching and painting all year long and it’s now time to show off their work at the 14^th Annual Tyrone Art Show.

The show is a positive experience for student artists who thrive on its competitive nature or just enjoy the opportunity to display their creations to the public.

“It’s a great way to show off your talents”, says Karah Kaltenbaugh, an 11th grade student-artist.

9th grader Taylor Hoover adds, “It will be interesting to see how other artists view the world and to see their perspective through their art.”

Some students who have viewed past art shows are now exhibitors.

“I’m quite excited. It’s the first one I’ve displayed art in.” says senior artist Amanda Lay. “I was performing in the Jazz Band at last year’s show.”

Some students are more introspective about the significance of the art show. “It’s a turning point for everyone.” suggests senior Dominic Berry. “After the cold winter months the art show is one of the first signs of spring…and hope.”

There will be over 100 works on display with first through fifth place awards being announced along with 8 merit awards.

Awards for outstanding artistic achievements will be presented as well.  New this year is the Tom Mickle Award For Creativity which includes a cash prize. This will be presented to an artwork that exhibits a high degree of creativity and imagination in a Fine Art context.

Viewers of the show will have the opportunity to “play juror” and vote for their favorite artwork from each grade.  These “People’s Choice” awards will be revealed during the school’s morning announcements and posted on the Tyrone Eagle Eye News website following the art show.

This year’s juror is Phil Brulia, an accomplished artist from Ebensburg.

Brulia became interested in art early in his life, and later studied it at the Ivy School of Professional Art and Pennsylvania State University. He is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and has exhibited his work in several international shows. He has received numerous awards for his works in exhibitions throughout Pennsylvania. Brulia was also the juror for the Tyrone Art Show in 2005.

“I am very impressed by their work”, says Brulia. “There is a large variety of styles. What I am most impressed with is how much the quality of the art has improved since the last time I juried a show here. Some of the works are of professional quality.”

The purpose of the show is to promote and celebrate the talents of the students and communicate the importance of the visual arts to the school and community.

Each year hundreds of family members and friends of the exhibitors come to support and encourage them. In addition, many of those in attendance will be teachers of the young artists who look forward to the opportunity to see a different side of the students they teach.

As Physics instructor Brian Gruber puts it, “I enjoy going to see the artwork of the students I teach. It’s always surprising and rewarding to see how artistically talented they are.”

Many who plan to attend the event, like Agriculture instructor Tiffany Hoy, believe it’s an important motivating factor for the student artists who participate.

“I think the art show motivates many students use their minds in a different way. It triggers the use of thinking skills that are not always utilized in other classes.” says Hoy.

After selecting winners for this year’s exhibition juror Phil Brulia states that the ultimate purpose of the Tyrone Art Show is to give students the opportunity to share their artistic visions with the community. “I encourage all students who have as much talent as I see here to continue to create artwork for their own pleasure and to share it with others even if they choose not to pursue a career in art. It’s a gift that is meant to be shared.” he concludes.

The TAHS Annual Art Show will be on display in the auditorium lobby at the spring band concert on April 24^th from 7 to 9 p.m. The public is invited to view the art, listen to the High School Jazz Band and attend the awards presentation on Friday, April 25^th from 2 to 3 p.m. in the high school auditorium.  The show will be open until 4:30pm the day of the show.  Admission is free.