By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Winners of the second annual Statewide High School Juried Art Exhibition were announced Nov. 3 at the show’s grand opening, which had more 100 students, teachers and college professors in attendance.

“It went great,” said Shelby County Arts Council Executive Director Bruce Andrews. “The fact that we drew students from all over the student was a positive.”

At the opening, students also had the opportunity to connect with universities, via professors, who are “interested in budding artists who are serious about their work,” Andrews said. Representatives from the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Huntsville, the University of Montevallo and the Savannah College of Art and Design attended the event.

Of the more than $1,000 in cash prizes that were awarded to students at the event, Morgan Griess, a 10th grade student at Athens High School, won $500 for having her drawing “Innocence” named Best of Show. Griess also won $100 for winning Best of Drawing.

Despite the fact that not all students were given awards, Andrews said all students should feel accomplished for getting into the show.

“If you get into a juried show, you already won,” he said. “You don’t get in every show that’s juried. They should feel proud of their accomplishments.”

Other winners were:

-Chandler Foshee of Thompson High School in Alabaster won Best Of Photography.

-Shelly Johnson of Briarwood High School in Birmingham won Best of Mixed Media.

-Madeline Corron of James Clemens High School in Madison won Best of Watercolor.

-Natalie Petrucka of Bob Jones High School in Huntsville won Staff Favorite.

The artwork will be on display at the SCAC Gallery until Dec. 1.  Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Winners will be on display at the University of Alabama’s Sella-Granata Gallery Jan. 13-29.