February 9, 2009 | DoNArTNeWs

The Philadelphia Sketch Club in partnership with the Philadelphia School District presents the 25^th Annual High School Student Art Exhibition from February 9, 2009 through February 22, 2009. A closing reception and awards will be held February 22^nd, 2 5:00 PM. The invitational represents the best student artists from High Schools around the city. The 2009 exhibit was organized by Dorothy Roschen, a prominent Philadelphia sculptor and former art teacher, the jurors are Diana Larisgoitia, PH.D, Rik Viola, actor and fine artist and multimedia artist DoN Brewer.

The depth and breadth of this wonderful show demonstrates how young people can communicate through art whether through Photoshop to cut paper to traditional drawings and paintings. DoN recalls that art was his favorite class in high school, a place to escape from the difficulties of growing up during the Viet Nam War (the Vietnamese called it the American War) with the inherent fear of the draft after graduating. Today young people are dealing with multiple wars and the new-age depression yet they, too, find solace in losing themselves in paint, charcoal and pastel even if they only have brown paper to develop their ideas.

More than 20 awards are being presented but there are many students being presented with honorable mentions that will receive certificates. DoN urges you to donate funds, materials or gift certificates to the Philadelphia Sketch Clubs effort; it would be great if every kid who poured his soul into their art is able to go home with an award.