(Photo by: Jasmine Mills)

Did you know that the museum that many JCCC students walk by every single day on campus hosts an annual exhibition?

The Shooting Stars Exhibition at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art showcases the work of high school visual arts finalists from across Johnson County.

This year, the exhibition will run from April 11 to May 10 on the second floor Mezzanine, and is free and open to anyone. There will also be a gala to celebrate the kick-off of the exhibition and announce the winners of each artistic category.

“The exhibition is part of a much larger program, organized by the Arts Council of Johnson County, that also celebrates students in literature, music, theatre and more. The Nerman is proud to be the home for the visual arts component each year,” Nerman Museum Registrar Whitney Williamson said.

This exhibit only exists because of the work the Arts Council of Johnson County does to elevate art in the community, according to Williamson.

“They created this program back in 1997 specifically to honor high school seniors for their artistic excellence, and the Nerman Museum has been a proud partner in bringing the visual arts component since 2008.”

There is a lot that goes into preparing the exhibit, and the entire Nerman staff is tasked with its planning and installation. Assistant registrar Bailey McCulloch and Williamson co-curated the exhibition, choosing one artwork from each visual arts finalist to showcase.

“We received images and information about all of the students’ artworks from our partners at Arts JoCo, and we worked together to select pieces that demonstrated overall strong creativity and technical proficiency. After we selected the works, we facilitated the drop-off days where students physically brought their pieces to the museum and filled out paperwork called a loan agreement,” McCulloch said.

McCulloch explains that this will be the students’ first time being exposed to the behind-the-scenes work that is required for an exhibition. She is also tasked with helping students fill out the loan agreement.

“After we received all of the artworks, I entered all of the data (artist name, object title, date, medium, etc.) into the exhibition record on our digital collection management system, called MuseumPlus. The students may not realize it, but the museum retains a physical and digital archive of information about their artwork in perpetuity.”

Community Relations Manager Mary Anne Matos works with the Arts Council of Johnson County in a communication-focused capacity.

“I facilitate the creation of invitations to the gala, make sure exhibition information is on our website and on our digital guide, and include information about this exhibition in our email newsletter and social media. I am also on-site on the gala day to facilitate operations at the Museum,” Matos said.

Matos explains that the museum has tons of resources to learn more about the exhibition and who is involved.

“We have the schools that participate listed on our exhibition page, and some great audio and video about what ‘Shooting Stars’ [is] and its impact on our digital guide. The Arts Council of Johnson County also has some great additional details about the program on their website as well.”

Williamson hopes that the exhibition will let visitors see the incredible talent that’s in the community.

“I also hope this exhibition serves as an inspiration and sparks something in the next generation of artists, encouraging them to continue pursuing their own creative paths,” Williamson said.

Similarly, Matos describes the community as very talented and hopes that visitors can find some inspiration.

“The Kansas City Metro Area is a vibrant and creative community, and the talent showcased during ‘Shooting Stars’ year after year is an incredible component of that thriving arts scene. It’s wonderful to be inspired by new generations of artists.”

McCulloh wants the exhibit to encourage students to keep pursuing art in any way they can and stresses the importance of having a creative outlet in every stage of life.

“I hope that students observe the wide array of life experiences and interests reflected in the artworks of their peers, and that they see the beauty in that,” McCulloh said. “I also hope that when students come to the museum and see their creations on display, it gives them a sense of belonging in our space and that they are welcome here.”