More than 100 young artists from 13 area high schools submitted drawings, paintings, and sculptures for the annual High School Art Show at Concordia College, which runs through Jan. 15.
Juror Anna Jacobson, director of learning and engagement at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, carefully studied each one of the 200-plus pieces before selecting 60 of them for display at the Cyrus M. Running Art Gallery.
“This exhibition is a powerful reminder of the talent, creativity, and perspective that young people bring to our community,” she said. “The work is inspiring, thought-provoking, and often surprisingly sophisticated.”
Jacobson, an artist, printmaker, educator, and art director based in North Dakota, has more than 20 years of experience in the visual arts and leads educational initiatives, public programs, and community engagement at the Plains Art Museum.
She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Jamestown and University of North Dakota, offering courses in design, printmaking, painting, and drawing, and she has partnered with the North Dakota Museum of Art, The Arts Center, and the North Dakota Council on the Arts, where she has facilitated workshops, residencies, and arts education throughout the state. In her own work, Jacobson combines traditional printmaking with natural processes such as rust to explore themes of memory, heritage, and transformation.
“Serving as a juror is both an honor and a responsibility. It involves spending time with each artwork — really looking, slowing down, and considering the choices the artist made,” she said. “I look at technique, creativity, and how successfully the student communicates an idea or feeling. It’s also important to approach each piece with openness, knowing that young artists are often experimenting, taking risks, and finding their voice. My role is to recognize and uplift that effort while selecting works that demonstrate strong artistic thinking and skill.”
Drawing was the largest category for submissions this year, with students exploring pencil on paper, oil pastel, colored pencil, and charcoal.
“Many students are clearly returning to foundational art-making skills and investing time in developing strong technique, ” she said. “Across these works, there was a noticeable attention to detail, careful observation, and a real commitment to mastering the basics in expressive and thoughtful ways.”
The show includes work from students attending the following high schools: Ada, Davies, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Fargo North, Grand Forks Central, Hawley, Lake Park, Moorhead, Oak Grove, Pelican Rapids, Perham, Sheyenne, and West Fargo.
It began Nov. 24 and will be open through Jan. 15, with a public reception set for 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 15, including juror remarks at 5:30 p.m.
More
- Cyrus M. Running Art Gallery
- Art programs at Concordia
- The Plains Art Museum, Fargo
- Artist Anna Jacobson, juror