COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Cantey Building is hosting many creative pieces of art during the South Carolina State Fair. One section of interest is the student art gallery.
David Kelly and Oliver Butler are seniors at Myrtle Beach High School, and their photographs are being displayed at the state fair.
“Because art is really cool. There’s a lot of cool things here,” Butler said. “So, there's a lot of things that we wouldn’t get the chance to see if we didn’t end up at the State Fair.”
“Also I feel like the state of South Carolina is very, like, diverse in a lot of ways,” Kelly said. “So, having people from all around the state be able to submit their artwork from their perspective of where they’re from and it all coming together here is really cool.”
Students throughout the state, from kindergarten to the twelfth grade, submitted their artwork for three different categories: photography, two dimensional models and three dimensional models.
Janie Fair worked in education for over forty-two years and believes this gallery is important for students.
“This is very important,” said Fair. “I think that we should have more art exhibits with high school and elementary school students' work shown, and it supports also the art education in our schools.”
Ida Thompson worked in education for thirty nine years and says this is an opportunity for students to express themselves.
“It’s important to give our students opportunities for expression,” said Thompson. “What they’re thinking, ideas they may have, how they are feeling. And art is a great way for students to do that.”
The fair judged artwork and students were givens awards and prizes.