Abilene Education Foundation: Young Masters Juried Art Exhibition

Abilene Education Foundation is pleased to present the second show for the AEF Young Masters Juried Art Exhibition for Advanced Placement art students. In collaboration with The Grace Museum and Abilene Independent School District, the goals of this exhibition are to celebrate young master artists and their dedicated teachers for demonstrating excellence in artistic expression and education, and to recognize outstanding artistic expression and education and to recognize outstanding artistic expression with a quality museum exhibition.

Abilene High School is ranked 2nd in Texas for AP Studio Art 2D and Cooper High School is ranked 7th. The AP Art History ranks 8th in the State, and AP Music Theory at Abilene High School ranks 16th in Texas, Cooper ranking 30th.

The Young Masters exhibition extends the supporting role of AEF with AISD, and will impact the future of not only the students selected for the show, but all AP art students by inspiring them to reach their full potential. Additionally, it provides students acclamation that may further enhance opportunities for acceptance into premier higher education art programs.

Scholarships for the 2009 exhibition were generously funded by Glenda Young, Kaye Price-Hawkins, Melody Hunt, Judy Godfrey and the families of Sherry Griffith and Jill Maxwell.. Framing of artwork and printing for the exhibition were funded through a grant provided by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council. A venture grant from the Community Foundation of Abilene and a generous donation from The Fine Arts Department of Cisco Junior College have provided additional funding for this project. AEF deeply appreciates the commitment of these individuals and institutions to education and the fine arts in the Abilene Independent School District.

We sincerely thank professional artist Randy Bacon of Fort Worth, an Abilene native and a Cooper High School graduate, for his expertise in judging this exhibition. We extend our appreciation to Judy Deaton, Chief Curator at The Grace Museum, for working with the AP art students about the importance of their artists' statements. Finally, we recognize and thank Gary Brown, Sherry Griffith, Jill Maxwell, Marsha Morgan and Julie Simer, Abilene ISD Advanced Placement Studio Art teachers, for their guidance and commitment to the success of this endeavor.