Three young Oxford County artists were recognized for their talents at a special summer open house hosted by the Woodstock Art Gallery.
The Saturday event provided officials an opportunity to present the gallery’s annual scholarship, as well as the high school juried exhibitions awards.
Rachel Williams, a graduate of Woodstock Collegiate Institute, was the recipient of the 2023 Friends of the Woodstock Art Gallery Legacy Scholarship. The young artist received $1,000 towards her post-secondary education.
During her time at Woodstock Collegiate, Williams founded a visual arts club after noticing a lack of art-focused activities at the school. In 2017, she also became one of the youngest vendors at the nearby London Comic Con.
In the fall, Williams will be pursing a dual degree in fine arts and business administration at Western University in London.
“I plan to learn to be not just an artist, but an artist that makes a difference, Williams said in a release.
The two winners of the recent third annual juried high school exhibition were also recognized at the open house. Juried by arts professionals Cole Swanson and Trish Roberts, this exhibition featured work from 13 Oxford County students.
The Best in Show Award was presented to Standards Reflected, a gouache and colored pencil portrait by Calista Goetz. the Juror’s Choice Awards were presented to Half Dome and Sisters, a photograph by Juston Domagala-Tang, and Ruptured Euphoria, a mixed-media piece by Goetz.
“It takes a huge amount of boldness to freely express yourself and share with others something that is so close to your heart,” said Stephanie Porter, the gallery’s head of education. “Thank you to these young artists for your inspiring courage and for your important contributions to the arts and the greater community.
“We are so excited to continue working together to build a stronger, healthier and more connected community of young artists and innovation.”
The artwork of all three students will remain at display on the gallery’s second-floor hallway until Sept. 23. The virtual exhibition for New Impressions 3: High School Juried Exhibition can be viewed inline at www.woodstockartgallery.ca.
