The 36th annual EXPOSURES student art show graced the Old Art Building in Leland over the weekend featuring the best of the best art from high schoolers from around the county.
Leland freshman Natalie Burpee earned the cover of the 2024 Exposures Magazine with her powerful “Parts of Me” mixed media drawing.
“My inspiration for that piece of artwork came out of my head after we were prompted to make a mixed media drawing ... I chose to use pastel ink and pencil, and then I pulled some different paper scraps that had lyrics from a song I liked and some word definitions that I felt defined me,” Burpee said.
Burpee took a self portrait for the image before sketching it.
The lyrics in the top left of the piece are from a song called “Fix You” by Coldplay.
“I chose that song because to me, it symbolizes the hard parts of life when we’re feeling depressed and needing to fix ourselves,” Burpee said. “I was trying to pull in from the negative emotions I feel, and then some of the other clippings I put in were more from positive things I feel about myself.”
EXPOSURES is another route for students to submit their art and see it published.
“Many people are able to see my artwork and I can communicate this expression of myself to the world in a way that they wouldn’t be able to otherwise,” Burpee said. “Exposures is just a really great way for students to show what they can do … I think art is really an expression of one’s feelings and thoughts. I think it’s a really great outlet that can build confidence and creativity.”
Leland seniors Mallory Lowe and Olive Ryder also received recognition for their respected art pieces.
This collaborative student project began in 1998 as a challenge for Leelanau County students in grades 7-12 to express themselves through art and writing.
Each year hundreds of poems, stories, photographs, paintings, drawings and sketches are submitted for review.
“I have enjoyed watching the art students discover their own styles this year. They have used their art to express personal ideas and experiences. For instance, Lowe’s heart-felt reflection of her volleyball state competition visually captures an emotional moment they will remember for a lifetime. I am proud of all the Leelanau County students published in Exposures for taking a risk and submitting their work,” Leland 6-12 visual arts teacher Lani Hoenscheid-Smith said.
This year, 155 pieces were selected to best represent the heartfelt thoughts, fears, dreams and hopes of Leelanau County students. Each year about 1,000 poems, stories, photographs, paintings, drawings, and sketches are submitted for review.
The Exposures community is grateful for the continuing support of the administrators and boards of education from Glen Lake Community Schools, the Leelanau School, Leland Public School, Pathfinder School, St. Mary’s School, and Suttons Bay Public Schools. Ongoing contributions from many generous individuals, Genuine Leelanau, Suttons Bay Art Festival, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Leland Educational Foundation, Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, and the Youth Advisory Council of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation are also gratefully acknowledged.
“There was a lineup of students waiting to receive their magazine during the open house,” project coordinator Deb Freed said. “Everyone was excited ... It was fantastic to be back in the Old Art Building.”
EXPOSURES is a collaborative project which depends upon the time and talents of many people in the community including Deb Freed, Donna Popke, Char Bickle, Nellie Danke, Lynne Rae Perkins. School Coordinators: Nikki Ackley, Elara Colman, Jennifer Evans, Mary Hall, Lani Hoenscheid-Smith, Cassie Lehman, Duncan Moran,and Ivy Ratliff.
