FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Samantha Massaglia – 612.618.5507 I [email protected]
COMPAS announces details of Emerging Young Artists Gallery Exhibition for visual artists 12-18 years old
Award show and gallery opening to be held on Thurs, March 6 at 5 pm at Landmark Center
(Saint Paul, MN) – COMPAS (compas.org), a nonprofit that teaches through creative experiences, has announced details of the 4th annual juried art show, gallery exhibition, and awards ceremony for its Emerging Young Artists – Saint Paul (EYA – Saint Paul) program. EYA celebrates and supports young visual artists in the Saint Paul metro area while continuing the legacy of the Les Farrington Best 100 Juried Art Show, previously administered by JCI Saint Paul, also known as the Saint Paul Jaycees.
Open to the public, the award show and gallery exhibition opening will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 5 p.m. at Landmark Center (75 Fifth Street West, Saint Paul, MN 55102). The exhibition will then run from March 7 to April 10, 2025.
Students from the East Metro were invited to submit visual artwork for inclusion in the juried show. One hundred thirty-five artists submitted a total of 287 art pieces. Pieces for the show were selected by a panel of local teaching artists, each of whom works with COMPAS to bring creative experiences, including participatory art-making opportunities, to schools. Twenty awards will be given to emerging artists at the award show on March 6th, plus three special awards selected by representatives of the Jaycees Charitable Foundation. During the opening reception, attendees will also be able to work with COMPAS teaching artists Chiaki O’Brien, seangarrison, and Stefon “Bionik” Taylor on ‘make and take’ art projects.
“Young artists have a powerful voice, and the Emerging Young Artists exhibition is a testament to the creativity, passion, and vision they bring to our community,” said COMPAS Executive Director Dawne Brown White. “COMPAS is proud to celebrate these artists and provide a platform where their talent can be recognized and nurtured. Art has the power to transform lives, and we can’t wait for the public to experience the incredible work these emerging artists have created.”
“The Saint Paul Jaycees are proud to continue to support the development, creativity, and expression of young artists in our community with the Emerging Young Artists program at COMPAS,” said Lisa Hiebert, trustee with the Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation and former chapter president of the Saint Paul Jaycees. “We encourage everyone to come and experience the gallery exhibits at the Landmark Center in Saint Paul. Our young people have a lot of passion and thoughtful perspectives to share about themselves and the world around us.”
The public and press are warmly invited to attend the FREE awards reception and gallery opening:
Thursday, March 6, 2024
5-8 pm (awards at 6:30 pm)
75 Fifth Street West
Saint Paul, MN 55102
EYA – Saint Paul Gallery Exhibition will be FREE and open to the public:
March 7- April 10, 2025
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 12 – 5 pm
75 Fifth Street West
Saint Paul, MN 55102
About COMPAS
COMPAS (compas.org) is a nonprofit organization with 50 years of experience delivering dynamic and engaging creative experiences in communities across Minnesota. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, teachers, older adults, hospital patients, teens, and community members to spark their imaginations and infuse their lives with creativity. Minnesota thrives when everyone has access to creative opportunities, and the arts empower people of all ages to tell their stories and amplify their unique voices.
About Emerging Young Artists (EYA)
COMPAS EYA (compas.org/emerging-young-artists) launched in 2022 with a pilot offering of the juried gallery show. In the program’s first years, EYA – Saint Paul has focused on serving Saint Paul by offering opportunities for young visual artists in the Saint Paul metro region. It is COMPAS’s vision that future phases of the EYA program will expand the show to include all areas of the Twin Cities, which will create a competitive and enriching experience where students across the metro can show off their creative talents and earn awards and recognition.
EYA is the legacy of the Les Farrington Best 100 Juried Art Show, which was previously administered by JCI Saint Paul, also known as Saint Paul Jaycees. From its inception in 1957 until 2019, the Best 100 Juried Art Show was an annual gallery exhibition showcasing the talent of young Saint Paul artists. Although the JCI Saint Paul chapter closed operations in 2020, the Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation, which was the funder for many of JCI Saint Paul’s larger community events, continues to operate and serves as the legacy sponsor of the new COMPAS program.
About the Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation
For 91 years, JCI Saint Paul (jcistpaul.org) (formerly called the Saint Paul Jaycees) proudly provided leadership development opportunities for young professionals to create positive change in the Saint Paul community. Due to declining membership numbers, the JCI Saint Paul chapter closed operations on August 31, 2020. The Saint Paul Jaycees Charitable Foundation, which was the funder for many of JCI Saint Paul’s larger community events, continues to operate and is committed to supporting the City of Saint Paul’s residents, businesses, and visitors now and into the future.
This activity is supported, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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