Scholastic Art Exhibit runs today through Jan. 29

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The 2015 Northeastern Ohio Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition opens today in Bliss Hall at Youngstown State University.

Showcasing artwork from students in grades 7 to 12 in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties, the exhibition will be on display through Jan. 29 in two Bliss Hall locations: the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery on the second floor and in the Art Department on the fourth floor. The Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The Scholastic Art Awards ceremony will take place at noon Saturday in Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater. The ceremony will feature the presentation of Gold and Silver Key awards as well as Honorable Mention awards, and the American Visions Awards.

The American Visions Award and Gold Key finalists will be sent to New York to compete for awards and possible scholarships with other student entries from across the nation.

The Northeastern Ohio Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition program is designed to encourage student creativity, provide the opportunity for enrichment by interaction with their contemporaries and to bring student artwork into public view.

The Scholastic Art Awards program is the largest and most-comprehensive annual student-art competition in America. Founded in 1927 by Scholastic Inc., the program is dedicated to recognizing the achievements of young artists. The program has recognized more than 13 million creative teenagers, including Andy Warhol and Robert Redford, in its 90-year history.