Bugs, jellyfish, clay monsters, lollies, plastic bottle-top trees, portraits and felt landscapes are just some of the things that feature in this year’s Kids on Show art exhibition at the Bowral Art Gallery.
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Now in its 19th year, the annual children’s art exhibition is a celebration of budding young artists in the Southern Highlands.
Children from kindergarten to Year 6 submit any artwork they have produced during the school year to go on display at the gallery for a week.
This year’s exhibition features entries from 18 Highlands primary schools, three after-school art groups and one home-schooling entry.
The artworks range from tiny clay creations and A4-sized drawings to tall plastic sculptures and metre-long murals.
This year’s judge, Gillian Hook, said the task of assessing the works was a tough gig.
“The standard of presentation is so much higher now,” she said.
"It’s a big effort for the teachers to put the artwork together at this time of year, but it has really taken off.
“Of all the exhibitions we have here throughout the year, this one lifts your spirits. It’s just cheery and lovely.”
There are prizes and awards given out for commended and highly commended entries.
The categories for this year’s entrants include creativity and originality, best colour and design, most expressive animal artwork, celebration of life, best sculpture, pencil drawing, black and white, and 3D creation.
“It’s getting terribly experimental!” Ms Hook said.
“There is a lot more mixed media and they are using a lot of different techniques. It’s very diverse.
“And it’s a lovely thing for us at the gallery to have exposure to young people who might not normally come to the gallery otherwise.”
Maureen Varnavsky, Bowral and District Art Society president, said the exhibition was also an important way of fostering a sense of community among the school children.
“It’s very inclusive – there is a nice camaraderie about it,” she said.
Kids on Show officially opens on Friday, November 24 at 5:30pm, when the prizes will be awarded, and will continue daily from Saturday, November 25 to Sunday, December 3.