Young Talent at ICC

EAST PEORIA — Aristotle once said the aim of art is “to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significances.” It could be submitted that the viewer’s job, in addition to finding representation in the art, is to look at the artist the same way. He should aim to find significance in that person in order to fully understand his artistic integrity beyond the outward appearance. For analogy’s sake: “significance” is purpose and “outward appearance” is, say, age.

For many years ICC has done an annual high school art show, for which area high school students submit entire portfolios of their work to be judged by a group of ICC jurors. The best works are chosen by the jurors and make it into ICC’s 131D student art gallery for display. Submissions come from high school students in Peoria and surrounding areas, including Tazewell, Woodford and Stark counties.

This year’s contest holds a record number of student submissions. Everything from paintings to sculptures to digital photography are being presented, more than 50 works filling nearly all of the large student gallery. It may certainly be contended that, as a whole, this gallery impresses and impacts as much as a college collection not only for its dynamicity, but for the sheer talent shown in its parts.

The contest runner- up piece “Insight,” by Kataryna McDonald of Dee-Mack, is an old dictionary augmented to form an abstract, nearly puzzling object. This piece, among other great sculptures in the gallery, exemplifies the creativity, perhaps new, yet so alive, in a young artist. Contest winner, Washingtons’ Elise Skulle’s photograph “Heartbroken Heartbreaker” follows suit, photographed and reflected to show, perhaps, the grim reality of what it is to love: hurting to evade being hurt. This piece does not only visually compel the viewer, but beckons him to think critically, just as many of the pieces in the gallery.

As stated, the student gallery is on campus in room 131D on the first floor. Gallery hours are typically 9:00a.m. – 9:00p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. on Friday.