High school students from Ellinwood, Great Bend, Stafford, Larned and Hoisington came to Barton Community College to engage in hands-on workshops from art professionals and participate in a juried art exhibit Wednesday.
Vortex Day is sponsored by the Barton County Arts Council (BCAC) and is underwritten by the Bill J. McKown Endowment/Golden Belt Foundation.
“We applaud the generosity of the BCAC,” Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes said. “Without their help, we would not have been able to expand our workshop offerings, provide the students with significant awards and provide encouragement to the high school teachers participating in the event.”
The BCAC Vortex exhibit featured entries in a variety of mediums from painting to 3D. The exhibit serves as the framework for Vortex Day, which is designed to stimulate and enhance students’ interest and excitement in the arts. Students participated in various workshops which ranged from ceramics to a session on gelatin.
Barton Art instructor Bill Forst was one of the Barton faculty who presented at this year’s Vortex Day. Forst collaborated with students to create fish-themed ceramic bowls. In each of his sessions, Forst spoke about the benefits of attending Barton, ranging from the facilities and equipment to the low cost and scholarship opportunities. He said he is “here to dismiss the myth of the starving artist.”
“They get to exhibit their artwork in the Shafer Art Gallery, which is a museum-quality gallery,” Forst said. “We have an awards ceremony to show them there is value in what they do. They can make a living in the arts.”
The day concluded with the awards ceremony in the Shafer Art Gallery to recognize the BCAC Vortex Exhibit winners in a range of categories. Students were awarded a variety of art supplies depending on their placement.
