By Emmy Benton, Editor-in-Chief
The Glenn Eure Ghost Fleet Gallery is once again home to the Dare County Schools Art Show. The opening reception occurred on Jan. 21 and the exhibit will be on display Jan. 23 through 27 from 3 to 6 p.m. each day.
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[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”20″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]Students from elementary to high school have their art on display in the historic gallery, something that has been tradition for over thirty years.
“This is a generational show,” FFHS art teacher Alice Baldwin said. “Some parents remember seeing their artwork shown here and now coming back and being able to see their children’s artwork shown in the same place is really awesome.”
Glenn Eure, whom the gallery is named after, passed away in 2018, but his wife, Pat Eure ensures that his memory lives on through the gallery. She noted that the creativity of the budding artists is what made the Dare County Schools Art Show Glenn’s favorite exhibit of the year.
“It was obvious that the young artists creating the work had fun doing it,” Eure said. “And though Glenn Eure lived to be 87, he created artwork on the last day of his life. And I will say, having been married to him for over 40 years, that he had fun doing every piece of artwork he did.”
Glenn was known for his kind character and childlike imagination that allowed him to create works that students can look up to today.
Baldwin urges both students and parents to take advantage of the open gallery time Monday through Friday to take in the artwork and history of the gallery in a calm environment.
“There’s a lot of little quirky things that you don’t get when there’s a ton of people here,” Baldwin said. “When you’re here by yourself, you can feel the creaks in the old gallery. It’s very old Nags Head.”
There are over 30 pieces of art on display by FFHS students. Of these, 12 received awards that give their art even more recognition and exposure around the community.
To award students for their creative works, each year, artwork selected by the Outer Banks Woman’s Club earns an entry into the Outer Banks Woman’s Club Annual Art Show. The pieces then go on to regional and state competitions in which students have the chance to show their artwork in an even bigger setting.
Senior Linley Woodard’s sculpture was one of only nine works selected by the group, something she never expected, but was excited to receive.
“I’m speechless, it’s amazing,” Woodard said.
A brand new set of awards this year is the Superintendent’s Choice Award. One piece of artwork was selected from each grade level and will be on display at Central Office until the next art show in the spring.
Junior Olivia Fisher, was given the Superintendent’s Choice Award for one of her pieces of art, an honor she was grateful to receive.
“It feels good,” Fisher said. “It’s a new award, so it’s pretty cool.”
For senior Bryce Owens, being able to show his artwork to his mother is part of what makes this gallery so special.
“She’s my biggest supporter, so she always goes to wherever my art is,” Owens said.
Having family members come to the show and discussing the art with them makes the gallery all the more memorable.
Senior Marin Remige was able to show her parents her art, as well as point out art projects she remembers doing in elementary school.
“I remember doing a lot of the elementary school projects in elementary school so it’s nice to point them out and talk about when I did them,” Remige said.
Eure is grateful that students can showcase their artwork at the gallery year after year and further their love for art.
“It’s so great to see the things that these young artists are creating and it makes you wonder what their future is going to be and who might end up with art as a career,” Eure said.
Glenn’s legacy lives on through his gallery, but also through the young artists that follow in his footsteps, so Eure has one message: “Keep creating.”
Senior Emmy Benton can be reached at 23bentonem58@daretolearn.org.
