Jule McMakin, a 10th grader from Chestnut Ridge High School, attended with her mother and grandmother. She viewed her colored pencil work of a tiger framed and spotlighted.

“It’s super impressive. I see a lot of my classmates’ art, too,” she said, explaining how each student picked a different image to sketch and worked over several class periods.

The juried exhibition in Bedford will be up through April 27. Artwork by students from Johnstown and Richland school districts is exhibited until March 30 at the Pasquerilla Center on University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown campus. Blair County and Cambria County students’ artworks are displayed in the Altoona gallery through April 6 and students from Westmoreland and Fayette counties are up through April 20 at the Ligonier location.

It’s the 27th annual exhibition, which is open to schools that participate in SAMA’s Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program. The programs operate across six counties and involve 25 school districts, six of which are new participants this year, officials said.

From ice cream cones to hamburgers to a tray of cinnamon buns, Bedford Middle School students used their skills to create delicious-looking ceramic pieces. Courtesy photo

Each district is permitted to submit up to 30 individual projects and two group projects. The Arts-in-Education or Artist-in-Residence program brings SAMA educators and professional artists into travel to public and parochial schools to provide lessons designed to enhance students’ understanding of art creation, technique, history, critique and aesthetics. SAMA’s award-winning education initiative is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth.

Everett art teacher Rebecca Grassi said the student exhibit “is a great way to display the talents of students and bring awareness of the arts into our communities.”

Reagan Hartman of Everett expressed delight with her daughter Misty Hartman’s work. “I love it. She is so talented.”

Another mother, Sarah Brambley, gazed upon the graphite and charcoal work of daughter Aliza Brambley. “I’m so impressed with the level of detail. This is not done in her normal style.”

Aliza selected a photograph of a skull in an anatomy book to illustrate. Aliza said she chose it because it offered her the opportunity to explore creating shadows and highlights.

Everett High School senior Bay Johnson captured first place with this portrait of actor Cillian Murphy. Courtesy photo

“It was my first time doing anything like that,” the Bedford Middle School eighth grader said. “I liked it.”

The exhibit was juried by SAMA trustee Megan Bordell, who encouraged the students to “not give up on art” regardless of where life may take them. Bordell spoke to those attending during a brief ceremony to name three winning pieces and said it was “very difficult to choose.” She emphasized that having been selected for the show should be a source of pride.

First place went to Everett senior Bay Johnson for her depiction of Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who starred in the movies “Peaky Blinders” and “Oppenheimer.”

“There’s so much drama in this,” Bordell said, of the high contrast work done in white charcoal on black.

Second place went to Bedford High School senior Jenna Crites for her colorful acrylic lion piece, and third place went to Chestnut Ridge senior Ace Henderson for her detailed mixed media piece that showed a ghostly figure writing at a desk.

Bedford High School senior Jenna Crites created this colorful lion using acrylics and won second place. Courtesy photo

One exhibit that drew attendees’ eyes was a ceramic group project by students in Alysia Dalesio’s art classes.

From upside down ice cream cones to a hamburger to a large tray of cinnamon buns, the ceramic pieces reflected each student’s interpretation of a tasty treat with icing drizzled, draped and embellished with cherries and bananas on the cinnamon buns.

SAMA education coordinator Kristin Miller said the student art exhibit encourages the youth by showing their efforts in the gallery.

“These exhibits this year are the largest to date,” Miller said. “I love to see how a student’s eyes light up when they see their piece hanging there for the first time. It really makes a lasting impact on them.”

Mirror Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.

Third place winner Ace Henderson, a senior at Chestnut Ridge High School creatd a detailed scene in this mixed media piece. Courtesy photo