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STUDENT ARTISTS HONORED

WHEELING, W.Va. (January 19, 2016)- – Oglebay Institute opened its annual Regional High School Student Art Exhibition January 14 with a public reception and awards ceremony at its Stifel Fine Arts Center. Several students received cash prizes for their work, and one area student was awarded a full tuition scholarship to West Virginia University.

The Regional Student Art Exhibit provides high school students the opportunity to display their work in a professional gallery, see what other students are doing in the world of art and collaborate and get feedback from art teachers, college professors and other students from throughout the region.  The show is part of Oglebay Institute’s art exhibition season, which is sponsored by United Bank.

For the past three years, West Virginia University’s School of Art and Design has offered a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to one student artist participating in OI’s Regional Student Art Show.  Reagan Ricer of Union Local High School is the 2016 scholarship recipient, and accepted the award from Dr. Teri Giobbia, art education coordinator at WVU, during the January 14 awards ceremony.

West Liberty University also awarded scholarships to three students in conjunction with the show. Brianna Stewart from Union Local High School was awarded a 4,000 scholarship along with a housing waiver. Katherine Stamper from Wheeling Park High School and Erica Leasure of Cameron High School were offered 1,000 scholarship awards.

The Regional Student Art Show is in its 27th year and saw a record number of entries this year, which, OI director of art education Brad Johnson said, “is a reflection of the quality art instruction taking place in area schools and a testament to OI’s commitment to fostering young talent.”

Johnson said the 2016 show features 320 pieces (up from 206 pieces last year) from 139 students from 12 high schools.

“Every inch of wall space in the gallery is covered with artwork.  We even had to add temporary panels in the upstairs gallery space to accommodate the overwhelming number of pieces,” he said.

The annual Regional Student Art Exhibit is open to students in grades 9-12 within a 50-mile radius of Wheeling.  Schools participating in the 2016 show represent five counties and three states and include: Avella High School, Bridgeport High School, River High School, Wheeling Park High School, Buckeye Local High School, Martins Ferry High School, Linsly, Wheeling Catholic Central, John Marshal High School, Cameron High School, Bellaire High School and Union Local High School.

Kelly Lumbatis juried the show, and prizes were awarded for Best of Show and to the top three students in four categories – painting, photography, drawing and 3-D.  Four students received honorable mentions. Lumbatis is a graduate of West Liberty University, is an art educator for Brooke County Schools and an adjunct instructor and summer camp counselor at the Stifel Fine Arts Center.

Award winners are as follows:

Best of Show: Danielle Merritt of Union Local.

Painting:  First place, Allison Ignacak, Bridgeport High School; second place, Brianna Stewart of Union Local High School; third place, Danielle Dawson of Bridgeport.

Drawing: First place, Alyssa Morrison, Union Local High School; second place Reagan Ricer of Union Local; third place, Ivory McCammon of Union Local.

Photography: First place, Holly Greene of Wheeling Park; second place, Jack Stryker of Wheeling Central; third place, Chase Harler of Wheeling Central.

3-D: First place, Hannah Lingenfelter, Buckeye Local; second place, Sarah Beth Doncals of Linsly; third place, Morgan Wiedebush of John Marshall.

Honorable mentions:  Summer Emory of Union Local; Samantha Williams of Union Local; Jimmie Carroll of Avella High School and Sarah Coleman of Wheeling Park.

Student Art Show 2016 winners
Several students received cash prizes for their work, and one area student was awarded a full tuition scholarship to West Virginia University in conjunction with Oglebay Institute’s Annual Regional Student Art Show. Honorees and award winners, pictured at the opening reception at OI’s Stifel Fine Arts Center, include, left to right: front row, Sarah Coleman, Danielle Merritt, Reagan Ricer, Holly Greene and Morgan Wiedebush; middle row, Ivory McCammon, Brianna Stewart, Sarah Beth Doncals and Rick Morgan, Stifel Center director; back row, Dr. Teri Giobbia, art education coordinator for the School of Art and Design at WVU, Danielle McCracken, Oglebay Institute president and Brad Johnson, OI director of art education.

Students attending the opening reception also had an opportunity to participate in the first “Capture” photo contest in conjunction with the exhibit.  Students were asked to view and capture the mood of the exhibit, take photos on their mobile devices around the theme “Breaking Away” and share their images in the Instagram community with a the hashtag #capturephotocontest.

Johnson said students were enthusiastic about this new aspect of the exhibit, which provides a way for students to engage in social media while actively promoting the visual arts.

“Through improved technology, we now have the ability to capture the moments around us, edit and publish for an audience almost instantaneously,” he explained. “The purpose of the “Capture” photo contest is to recognize those photographers who have a keen eye for the stories unfolding around them and who overcome situational obstacles and limited equipment to capture the moments that we might have missed or want to remember forever.”

Johnson said he would love to see even more schools represented in next year’s Regional Student Art Show and encourages students and teacher to reach out to him for more information. He can be reached at the Stifel Fine Arts Center at 304-242-7700.

The show can be viewed free of charge now through February 26 at the Stifel Fine Arts Center.  Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturdays. Evening hours are dependent of classes and special events taking place.

TOWNGATE PRESENTS CHILDREN’S CLASSIC “CHARLOTTE’S WEB”

WHEELING, W.Va. (January 19, 2016)— The captivating children’s tale of friendship between a spider and a pig comes to life at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre. Charlotte’s Web, a play adapted from the original novel by E.B. White, takes the stage January 29, 30 and 31 and February 5 and 6.

All children attending a performance of Charlotte’s Web will receive a keepsake photograph and have an opportunity to go on stage and meet the cast after the show.  Children attending the January 30 matinee performance have the option of staying afterward for a special “County Fair,” where they can join Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern and the barnyard gang for a variety of themed-activities including square dancing, face painting and fair games.  (Separate admission is charged for the “County Fair,” and advance reservations are required.)

The Children’s Literature Association named Charlotte’s Web the best American children’s book of the past 200 years. Playwright Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of E.B. White, created a play that captures this work in an enchanting theatrical production that is sure to touch the hearts of children and adults alike.

Charlotte’s Web tells of the friendship between a gray spider, Charlotte, and a barnyard pig, Wilbur. The novel, published by White in 1952, is one of the most well known children’s books of all time, said Towngate Theatre director Tim Thompson. “The story celebrates the meaning of true friendship and is a classic tale dealing with the ever-changing circle of life.”

The drama begins when Farmer Arable goes out to kill the “runt” of the newborn pigs. His daughter, Fern, pleads with him not to kill it. He decides to let Fern raise the piglet, which she names Wilbur. When Wilbur grows up, he is sold to Fern’s uncle, Mr. Zuckerman.

At Zuckerman’s farm, Wilbur meets many new animals, including Templeton, a rat, Gander, a goose, and Uncle, an older pig. Each farm animal has unique characteristics that add humor and meaning to the tale. Wilbur’s most special friend, however, is Charlotte, a beautiful spider who lives in the barn. Charlotte and Wilbur have long talks, keep each other company and become great friends.

When Wilbur is old enough to be killed for food, Charlotte, inspired by her web weaving, devises a plan to save Wilbur from the slaughterhouse.

Oglebay Institute’s Children Theater Season is committed to staging classic stories because they are proven to be something that every young person should experience, Thompson explained, and Charlotte’s Web certainly fits the bill.

“This story not only entertains, it instructs. It explores issues of friendship, family, life and death. It’s filled with endearing characters, and it’s also incredibly funny,” Thompson said.

Charlotte’s Web will be staged at Towngate at 7 p.m. January 29 and February 5 and 3 p.m. January 30, 31 and February 6. This is the perfect family outing, and children ages 10 and under will be admitted for a special price of $10. Adult admission is $12.50.  Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount.

Charlotte's Web
Charlotte’s Web promises audiences an enchanted experience as everyone’s favorite spider, played by Meghan Ross, sets out to save the irresistible pig, Wilbur, played by Dailey Ward, left. Gracie Vensel, right, plays, the lovable Fern. This beautiful play, based on classic book by E.B. White, will be staged January 29, 30, 31 and February 5 and 6 at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre, 2118 Market Street, Wheeling.

Thompson directs Charlotte’s Web, and the talented cast of children, teens and adults includes: Meghan Ross, Dailey Ward, David Gaudio, Gracie Vensel, Jalen McCrary, Delaney Powell, Joel Nau, Maggie Aulick, Mike Blanton, Evan Oslund, Hilary Regan, Nathan Stryker, Walt Warren, Erin Dodd, Aleigha Dodd, Lexi Kosanovic, Alex Madzia, Rachel Thompson, Grace Thompson, Ayden Swoyer, Isaac Swoyer, Campbell Hughes, Reagan Hughes, Elaina Mary Pusz, Kearstin Zeroski, Kara Zeroski, Tamara Smathers, Adam McCracken, Justin Swoyer, Jim Showalter Jr., Robert J. Gaudio, Marian Moss, Jordan Lockard, Grace Landini, Merritt Delk, Stephanie Ebarb.

The crew includes Dave Henderson, set designer; P.D. Gregg, technical director; Robert J. Gaudio, assistant director; Tamara Smathers, stage manager, Chelsea McAvoy, light board operator and Brooke Lander, sound board operator.

Tickets for Charlotte’s Web can be purchase by calling 304-242-7700 or at www.oionline.com.

For those buying seats at the door, Towngate’s box office opens one hour before all shows and can be reached at 304-233-4257.

Refreshments are available at Towngate Theatre and parking is curbside or in the nearby Center Wheeling Parking Garage. Located at 2118 Market St., Wheeling, Towngate is easy to find and located just across the street from St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in the historic Centre Market district of Wheeling.