CSUN Hosts Annual High School Art Exhibit

  • The 17th Annual High School Art Invitational

    The 17th Annual High School Art Invitational is on display in the California State University, Northridge Art Galleries through Feb. 1. The event showcases student and faculty art from 39 San Fernando Valley high schools. More than 200 student art pieces using a variety of media ranging from oil paintings to ceramic were selected by school faculty to be placed in the exhibit. Photo by Nestor Garcia.

  • Roxanna Abrishamchian of The Buckley School uses ceramic to reflect her vision with

    Roxanna Abrishamchian of The Buckley School uses ceramic to reflect her vision with "City Shoe." Photo by Nestor Garcia.

  • Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences explores the beauty of the colorful peacock.

    “Peacocks,” oil-on-canvas, by Tessa Roth from Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences explores the beauty of the colorful peacock. Photo by Nestor Garcia.

  • Crystal Yan uses computer graphics to highlight the beauty of the sea, engaging the real with a touch of the fantastical.

    North Hollywood High School's Crystal Yan uses computer graphics to highlight the beauty of the sea, engaging the real with a touch of the fantastical. Photo by Nestor Garcia.

  • Granada Hills Charter High School's Faith Ignacio illustrates a woman with sunglasses with pencil in

    Granada Hills Charter High School's Faith Ignacio illustrates a woman with sunglasses with pencil in "Reflection." Photo by Nestor Garcia.

  • Sierra Canyon's Alexandra Davis showed off her creativity with red feathers and paper stars.

    Sierra Canyon's Alexandra Davis showed off her creativity with red feathers and paper stars. Photo by Nestor Garcia.

The 17th Annual High School Art Invitational is on display now through Feb. 1 in California State University Northridge’s Art Galleries. The event showcases student and faculty art from 39 San Fernando Valley high schools.

“We think it’s important to involve the community and bring students and their parents to campus,” said Jim Sweeters, director of the galleries. “We look forward to this every year — all the enthusiasm of the students and the parents.”

Each school is allowed to display up to six pieces of student art. More than 200 student pieces occupy the Main Gallery. The student artists use a variety of media including graphite, ceramic, spray paint and oil on canvas. Several faculty pieces are featured in the West Gallery.

A closing reception for the exhibition will be held on Jan. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Several of the artists are expected to attend.

“The CSUN event is especially important to us because for most, it constitutes the first foray into exhibiting and is a reinforcement to the whole art community here at Notre Dame,” said Paula Hutchings, a Notre Dame High School art teacher.

Donna Mercer, a teacher at Grover Cleveland Charter High School, said the exhibit is “great exposure for our aspiring artists.”

The following high schools will be participating: AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian, Amelia Earhart, Arleta, ArTES, Birmingham Community Charter, Bishop Alemany, Bridges Academy, Chaminade College Preparatory, Chatsworth, Concordia, , El Camino Real Charter, Faith Baptist, Fulton College Preparatory, Granada Hills Charter, Grover Cleveland Charter, Harvard Westlake, Heritage Christian, Highland Hall, James Monroe, Jane Addams, John H. Francis Polytechnic, Louisville, Milken Community, New Community Jewish, North Hollywood, North Valley Charter Academy, Northridge Academy, Notre Dame, Reseda, Sherman Oaks CES, Sierra Canyon, Social Justice Humanitas Academy, Stoney Point, Sylmar, The Buckley School, Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences, Viewpoint School, William H. Taft and William T. Aggeler.