SOUTH HOLLAND, IL –The Art and Design Department of South Suburban College is currently displaying its 20th annual SSC Regional High School Student Art Exhibit through the closing Art Festival Day on February 27th.

The exhibition includes 22 regional high schools districts from Illinois and Indiana. Approximately 300 pieces of student artwork is on display in the galleries and display cases of the Art and Design Department on SSC’s Main Campus. In addition to the high school student artwork, the high school art faculty will be displaying their artwork for their bi-annual High School Faculty Exhibition in the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery, located on the first floor.

The exhibitions will culminate on Friday, February 27th with all of the participating high school students and teachers on campus for a visiting artist lecture, a gallery crawl reception, and demonstrations in various art studios. The festival begins in the Performing Arts Center at 10:00 a.m. with opening remarks, followed by guest artist Tim Arroyo, a Chicago photographer, who will provide a presentation of his artwork and life experiences in the art world. Special remarks will also be given by Jocelyn Prue, Director of White Ripple Gallery in Hammond, IN. Ms. Prue is the juror of this year’s High School Art Exhibition. An awards presentation for the high school students’ artwork will follow. Several businesses, including Jimmy Johns of South Holland, Dick Blick Art Materials, Inc., and Great Lakes Clay, Inc. are sponsoring the awards. Additionally, two art merit scholarships from the Offices of the President and Vice President of Academic Services of South Suburban College will be presented.

Afternoon activities include a gallery reception crawl for the high school students with Mr. Arroyo. The SSC Art Faculty will also conduct demonstrations in the Digital Graphic Arts Studio, Painting Studio, Ceramics Studio and bronze casting in the Sculpture Atelier. The day’s events will conclude at 2:00 p.m.

The Art and Design Department of SSC is located on the fourth floor, Northeast section of the South Holland campus. The Dorothea Thiel and Photo-Four Galleries are both located within the Art and Design studio complex. The public is cordially invited to attend the exhibition and festival free of charge. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and college holidays.

For more information, contact Jack Kirkpatrick, Chairman of the SSC Art & Design Department at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445.