Youth Explosion
November 29 – December 16

Gallery Hours
Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Weekends 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Centre Wellington District High School – Fergus

• Lindsay Adams
  Elizabeth Barnes
  Jessica Buchanan
  Alanah Crouse
  Courtney Elliot
  Yanna Hanscomb
  Emily Martin
  Madeline Neff
  Kaitlin Pletch
  Stephanie Poirier
  Camiee Reed
  Brittany Schantz
  Genevieve Shave
  Christina Simmons
  Laura Sloan

Norwell District Secondary School – Palmerston

• Josh Alexander
  Thomas Bexton
  Justin Freeland
  Sarina Doer
  Ammanda Grice
  Dani Hill
  Mary Jones
  Leanne Kochut
  Terri Lee
  Aaron Lyons
  Danielle McConnell
  Jared Shiels
  Marina Signer
  Lea-Ann Snyder
  Thomas Van Stee
  Nikki Winger
  Megan Wright
  Ashley Zwarycz
  Katie Zwarycz

Wellington Heights Secondary School – Mount Forest

• Mike Ashley
  Conor Bierne
  Matt Doney
  Suzie Florence
  Emily Hodges
  Jessica McEwen
  Natalie Orr
  Sarah Pride
  Brittany Sivill
  Sarah Stokes
  Jamie Woods

High school is arguably one of the most frustrating times of a teenager’s life. However, the high school art room can be a haven for creative spirits, a place where students explore, create, and share their passions. “Youth Explosion”, features the works of selected grade 11 and 12 students from Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus, Norwell Secondary School in Palmerston, and Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest. This exhibition will promote the work of these young people, and enable us to see the world through their eyes. Their works often reflect their questions, pleasures, struggles, and hopes for the future. Dorothy Ames, Chair of the Elora Centre of the Arts, knows first hand how important art programming is in high school. “I didn’t do well with the “3 Rs” – reading, writing and arithmetic. The stress of being expected to do well in those subjects can be overwhelming. If it hadn’t been for the great teachers that I had, who saw that my strength was in the arts and fostered that talent, I would have been one of those kids that fell through the cracks. It’s imperative that students who do well artistically be given a showcase to let their special talent shine through”. The exhibition will feature a cross section of the best work from each school. The teachers are thrilled to have this opportunity to further promote the artistic talent of the teens by allowing them to show their works in a gallery setting. “I’m really pleased that there is a vehicle for these students to show their work,” says Phil Irish, local artist and gallery curator. “When I was in high school, we didn’t have any place to show our art. There was a group of us who stayed after school and used the art room like it was our own personal studio. Being able to have their work in a gallery will open their eyes to what lies beyond the classroom, and encourage them to think beyond high school and towards a career in something they are already passionate about.”