BYRNE GALLERY TO HOST 13th ANNUAL
NOTRE DAME ACADEMY STUDENT ART EXHIBITION: “Soon to be….”

The Byrne Gallery is pleased to showcase Notre Dame Academy student artwork February 3rd through February 7th, 2010. The Thirteenth Annual Exhibition, entitled “Soon to be….” celebrates the creative spirit of Notre Dame Academy art students and the support of its benefactor The Byrne Gallery that has generously underwritten the show since 1998. The “Soon to be…” theme relates to the name change of Notre Dame Academy which will be known as Middleburg Academy beginning next fall. During the past thirteen years, over 500 students have exhibited their art in this very unique and successful partnership between The Byrne Gallery and Notre Dame Academy. Enriched by the experience, many former students/graduates are studying art in college or pursuing an art related career. Enrolled at prestigious art schools as The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Parsons, and The Corcoran, former students attribute the Student Art Show as having a significant impact on their decision to pursue an art related career. Several students have interned at the gallery and have included their experiences as a worthwhile addition in their college application process. The main focus however, is to give as many students as possible opportunities to display their art in a professional art gallery. With each participating student artist having their work displayed in an optimum gallery environment, the art show may be the only time their work is professionally exhibited.

Notre Dame instructors and contemporary visual artists Wayne Paige and Jill Palumbo work with the students in educating them on the process of how artists exhibit their work. This includes a review of the artwork, selection, presentation, determining the price of the work, and promotion: invitations, press releases, openings/receptions, and critiques/reviews.

The Exhibition is a jurored show, and a local artist Linda Hughes, a Corcoran graduate from Middleburg will be on hand to review and jury the displayed works. Linda’s role as juror and her ability to select quality art over the past eleven years has been significant in the success of the show. Ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, and mixed-media art will be featured. Awards and prizes will be given in each category. Each year, merchants and local businesses applaud the students’ progress by generously donating prizes to the award recipients. The community’s enthusiastic support of the arts has helped to make the exhibition an annual celebration of young artists.

The Tenth Annual Mrs. Susan Byrne Purchase Prize Award will be awarded to the best work in the show. This award is dedicated to Mrs. Susan Byrne, mother of the gallery owner and lifelong art teacher who did so much in inspiring young artists. Last year’s recipient was Ashton Huge whose work was added to Notre Dame Academy’s permanent collection of award recipients. Previous winners include Paul Rice 08, Erin Manning 07, Taylor Welsh 06, Missy Cormak/Kelsey Struder 05, Inslee Haynes 04, Kelsey Struder 03, Constance Wilson 02 and Min uk Jung 01.

The “Soon to be….” exhibit will be on display February 3rd through February 7th, 2010 and is open to the public. A reception and awards presentation will be held on Saturday, February 6th from 3:00 to 6:00. Most of the work is for sale and is affordably priced. Regular Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10am –5 pm, Sunday Noon –5 pm. For additional information, please call (540) 687 6986. The location of The Byrne Gallery is 7 West Washington Street, Middleburg, Virginia 20118-1478.