The "Where Are They Now" Story

The Lancaster Museum of Art.  Above oil is of the Museum.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at the exhibit that is housed in the Lancaster Museum of Art at 135 N. Lime Street in the city of Lancaster, PA.  The exhibit that is featured until March 2nd is titled "Where Are They Now?"  The exhibit features about a dozen artists who were winners in the National Scholastic Art, Photography and Writing Contest that was started in 1923 for high school students throughout the country.  Many of Lancaster's young artists won National awards during their high school career and for the next month the work they did in high school as well as the artwork they are still producing is on display.

Stone lithograph from Bob LeMin

 I felt I needed to make a visit to see if any of the students I had in my Graphic Arts and Photography classes at Manheim Township may be featured.  I was impressed that about a third of the artists were from the high school where I taught.  Dan Nguyen, founder of Stoner Bunting Advertising and one of my photography students as well as layout editor of the school yearbook for which I was advisor to, had a piece of work from the 1992 Scholastics on display as well as one of his designs for a current client on display.  Bob LeMin, a student in 1973, and still a thriving artist, had a current piece of art as well as his piece titled "Up from the Mines" which was a lithograph he did in my graphics class on display.  Nancy Zink from 1967 as well as Kathy Kermes from the late 1970s were also featured, but they were not students of mine.  

Logo design from the 1990s

Most of the names and work featured I remember well, since I volunteered many years with the hanging of the local exhibit.  This year's exhibit will be hung for display at the Lancaster Museum of Art from March 7-30.  All three of my children have had artwork displayed in the show with my daughter Brynn winning a National Award in 1991.  We traveled to Boston with her to receive the award.  

Newer design from the 2000s

Exciting time in our lives.  The Lancaster Museum of Art was founded in 1965 and will celebrate it's 50th year next year.  It was originally known as the Goethean Gallery and housed on the campus of Franklin and Marshall College.  It later moved downtown Lancaster and in 1979 moved to the present location in the Grubb Mansion which is adjacent to Musser Park, one of Lancaster's City parks.  A few years ago I was asked to help judge the photography part of the contest and enjoyed it tremendously.  I'm anxious to see what the middle and high school students from Lancaster County will produce this year.  They never cease to amaze me with their artwork, writing and photography.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.