15th Annual Young Masters Exhibition at DMA

Exhibition features fifty-six works from local Advanced Placement Studio Art, shop Art History, shop and Music Theory students

The O’Donnell Foundation announces the fifteenth annual Young Masters exhibition on view December 22, 2012, through February 17, 2013, at the Dallas Museum of Art in the Concourse. The exhibition features selected works created by Advanced Placement® Studio Art, Art History, and Music Theory students from twelve Dallas-area high schools participating in the O’Donnell Foundation’s Create Schools of Excellence in Fine Arts Incentive Program™.

Zachary Gray, Creekview High School, Globe
Zachary Gray, Creekview High School, Globe

The 2013 Young Masters exhibition will include original 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional works of art by AP Studio Art students, original essays in response to works in the Dallas Museum of Art’s collection by AP Art History students, and original four-minute music compositions by AP Music Theory students. This integration of all three disciplines reinforces both the interconnectedness of the arts and the mission of the O’Donnell Foundation’s incentive program, Create Schools of Excellence in Fine Arts Education.

“The Young Masters exhibition highlights the artistic talent and creativity of these young students, whose skills have been cultivated and developed through hard work with experienced AP teachers,” remarked Edith O’Donnell, who founded the program in 1994. “Studying art and music theory gives students valuable skills such as critical thinking and innovation, which lead them to develop inquiring minds and a love of learning. Many will go on to outstanding colleges where they will become inspired to study world cultures and broaden their interests to pursue careers in the arts, medicine, technology, law, and education.”

Mackenzie Miller, Lovejoy High School, Toni
Mackenzie Miller, Lovejoy High School, Toni

This year, 620 works by AP Fine Arts students were submitted for consideration for the exhibition. From those submissions, 56 pieces were selected by a panel of respected judges for inclusion in this year’s Young Masters exhibition.

Incentive program schools with students represented in the exhibition are Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA), Coppell High School, Creekview High School, J. J. Pearce High School, Lake Highlands High School, Lovejoy High School, McKinney Boyd High School, Newman Smith High School, Plano East Senior High School, Plano Senior High School, Plano West Senior High School, and Richardson High School. (A complete list of the students participating in this year’s exhibition is attached.)

On Tuesday, February 5, a private reception and awards ceremony will be held at the Dallas Museum of Art for the artists, their families, and the teachers. Dr. Maxwell L. Anderson, The Eugene McDermott Director at the Dallas Museum of Art, will serve as the ceremony’s guest speaker. Following remarks, program award winners will be announced to include First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mentions.

Lauren Ussery, Coppell High School, Faulty Shower
Lauren Ussery, Coppell High School, Faulty Shower

Admission to the Young Masters exhibition in the DMA’s Concourse is free to the public; general admission is required to visit the Museum galleries through January 20, 2013. The DMA will return to free general admission, as well as launch their DMA Friends & Partners program, on Monday, January 21. For more information about the Young Masters exhibition, visit www.apstrategiesarts.org. For general information on visiting the Dallas Museum of Art, visit DMA.org or call 214-922-1803.