SYRACUSE, NY.- The Everson Museum of Art opened an exhibition of the work of local high school students titled Student Art Open: (Un)doing Fashion, through February 1, 2009. This biannual exhibition focuses on the local talent of young artists and finds inspiration in current Everson exhibitions Marie Antoinette: Styling the 18th-Century Superstar and Warhol Presents.

“(Un)doing Fashion is the sixth art competition for Onondaga County high school (art) students organized by the Everson Museum of Art,” said Pam McLaughlin, Everson Museum of Art Curator of Education and Public Programs. “This program exists to provide a forum for young artists to create art inspired by issues of importance to them, both personal and social.”

Student Art Open 2008 began in September with a full-day teacher workshop at the Everson, that included 17 art teachers from ten local high schools. Artist Jeffrey Mayer engaged participants in group discussions as he led teachers on a gallery walk of his exhibition, Marie Antoinette: Styling the 18th-Century Superstar. The day ended with an exploration of curriculum packets related to the exhibition and a fanciful shoe art-making session.

As a result of this year’s Student Art Open, over 250 students from 13 art classes created art ranging from the personal to the political. After a tour of the exhibition and two months of art-making in the classroom two works from each class, juried into the exhibition by their school, were submitted for (Un)doing Fashion. Participating schools include Bishop Grimes Jr. Sr. High School, Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, Marcellus High School, Onondaga Jr. Sr. High School, Skaneateles High School, Thomas J. Corcoran High School, Westhill High School, West Genesee High School, and William Nottingham High School.