By Scott D. Johnston

Associated Arts of Ocean Shores (AAOS) has teamed with the Ocean Shores Public Library to create the first annual edition of an expanded Youth Fine Art Open Show, Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show is affiliated with one of the North Coast’s longest running annual events, the AAOS Fine Arts, 3D and Photography Show, set this year for April 22-23 in the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The top 20 artists in the Youth Division show will be invited to showcase their work at this event, where they will also become eligible to compete for cash awards.

The youth show is comprised of students from the art classes of Richard Villar at North Beach High School, and judged by well-known local artist, Larry Walden. About 50 entries are expected to be hung in the Library at 573 Pt. Brown Ave NW. From those entries, 20 will be awarded honorable mentions which will be noted at the library show. Out of those 20, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen at a later date. There are also several individual and business sponsors who will choose students’ art and make their own awards separately.

Joan Lohr, a local artist, writer, AAOS board member and chairperson of the April art show, explained that creating a youth art show “honor(s) the students in a more personal way than … in the past. We will have a reception for them; there will be a field trip bus trip on Friday; we will have a few live artists painting over the weekend for the students to meet.

“We recognize that our future artists are the students. We want to help direct them and their talents,” she said.

Lohr explained that AAOS has long been involved with youth art at NBHS as “part of our mission statement, to develop programs for visual, literary and performing arts.” The non-profit organization donates $2,500 each year to the art department to buy supplies, and also donates $1,000 for a scholarship.

AAOS president Ed Schroll said, “Youth has always been really important to us. We’ve been making them part of our shows so they can get the experience and exposure as artists. They’re the next generation of artists and we’re trying to encourage and nurture and cultivate them.”

Library director Keitha Owen noted the library’s support of the arts. “In my six years… the library has always supported all types of local art via the very popular monthly ‘Art in the Library’ shows, the quilt of the month shows, art programs for all ages in the library and the AAOS cooperative efforts with the Friends of the Library art fundraiser raffle, which will start this year on April 18.

“The library serves all segments of the community including very popular teen events throughout the year and during the summer. Supporting these high school students is an extension of those programs,” she said.

“The library is excited to again cooperate with the AAOS and help with their promotion of local art in Ocean Shores.”

The 2017 AAOS Youth Fine Art Open Show will be Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, during regular Library hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information is available online at www.oslibrary.info.