Along with other artists from the Natural State, five young Texarkana artists shine in a new exhibit at the Regional Arts Center as part of the 47th Annual Young Arkansas Artist’s Competition and Exhibition.

Arkansas artists are featured in the selection of work to be displayed here with Texarkana winners ranging in school year from third to 10th grade. The exhibit runs through Dec. 19 in the third-floor classroom.

“It started off with different schools throughout the state of Arkansas, and it could be pretty much any sort of media,” said Bryan Phillips, community programs coordinator for the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council. “There were sculptures, mixed-media, paintings, photography.”

Of 592 submissions from 171 schools, the competition chose 90 entries to be featured at different locations in the state for the touring exhibition, he said. The 90 works are touring the state in five groups.

“We’re really proud of all the students and certainly biased toward the Texarkana area,” said Phillips, noting the local artists were given a bit of special recognition.

The local winners are Colleen Briggs, a fourth-grader from Fairview Elementary; Kara Matthews, a ninth-grader from Arkansas High School; Hertis Martin, a sixth-grader from College Hill Middle School; Shantinqua Jones, a 10th-grader from Arkansas High School; and Ryan Smith, a third-grader from Union Elementary.

Their work shows skill and talent, ingenuity and creativity. “You’re getting a diverse group of kids here, as well as young adults,” said Phillps.

Briggs shows a fresh and playful approach in her piece titled “Cougar on Log.” Phillips noted the stylized look and the use of leaves in the mixed-media work. And the one-eyed cougar reminds him of a worn-out teddy bear.

About Matthews, Phillips noted her use of heavy black and white contrast and bright wash of color that offsets that contrast in her pastel work “Mood Swing.” He also praised how the work captures the flow of hair in her piece.

Hertis Martin’s inventive piece uses actual clothing as part of this mixed-media portrait of a young man. That lends a degree of realism to the work, said Phillips.

Shantinqua Jones’ expressive, intense portrait is particularly striking. “Just the subtleties of what they’ve chosen is what makes these unique and what makes them so strong,” said Phillips about the artists. “A lot of the things you see in here I would say rival a lot of professional works.”

Though pieces show the extent of training, the works also show a powerful mind, he said.

The fifth piece is Ryan Smith’s “Lizard Aboriginal Design,” a colorful take on a lizard’s look. “He’s kind of taken it one little step farther,” said Phillips. “The reptiles tend to have a bit more speckled skin. They look a little more flamboyant. He’s really taken it and just blown it out.”

The winning selections for the Young Arkansas Artists exhibit are chosen by the Arkansas Arts Center.



(Admission is free. The Regional Arts Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a 7 p.m. close on Thursday. More info: 903-792-8681.)