The Student Show 2012 will open the new season of exhibitions at the Blyth Festival Art Gallery. Dozens of works by Huron and Perth high school art students will fill the Bainton Gallery for this show, which begins with the opening reception at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 3 and runs until May 17.

This annual show is an exciting venue for celebrating student creativity and features the best works of students in Grades 9-12. The Avon Maitland District School Board includes schools from Wingham, Clinton, Goderich, Exeter, Mitchell, St. Marys, Stratford and Listowel. The Huron Perth Catholic School Board is represented by works from Clinton and Stratford. Many different artistic techniques will be featured including mixed media, sculpture, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital illustration.

The public can expect to see exciting art, full of youthful energy and off-the-wall ideas. The Student Show 2012 is presented by the Blyth Festival Art Gallery and sponsored by Goderich Print Shop. It officially opens in the Bainton Gallery (next to the Blyth Festival Box Office) on Thursday, May 3.

Three Awards of Excellence will be presented to outstanding students. The winners will receive a cash prize of $100 and their art works will be displayed at the Blyth Festival for the duration of the 2012 theatre season. This year, the Huron Arts and Heritage Network’s individual artist award was won by Greg Sherwood, the student show’s curator. HAHN’s chair, Deb Sholdice, will present the award to Sherwood at the opening.

All teachers, students, parents and members of the public are invited to the reception to join in the festivities and help open this exhibition. Refreshments will be served.

The show will be available for viewing during the Blyth Festival box office hours until May 17.