Batesville Area Young Artists exhibit at Lyon College Kresge Gallery is May 18 to Aug. 4
By Colton Strader
BATESVILLE, Arkansas – Young artists from the Batesville area have a chance to showcase their talents in the upcoming Batesville Area Young Artists (BAYA) High School Juried Art Exhibition.
Students from eligible schools, including Cave City High School, Batesville High School, Southside High School and Cedar Ridge High School, who are expected to graduate in 2024 or 2025, were invited to submit up to three artworks in any 2D or 3D medium.
The BAYA event is the first community exhibition of its kind on campus, said Dustyn Bork, professor of art and BAYA organizer, who discussed the goals of the program.
“We see so many talented artists in the area, but they don’t necessarily know what steps to take next or how to showcase their art,” said Bork. “The Lyon College Art program wants to create a showcase, a possibility, that can encourage those young artists and give them an audience for their work.”
Bork emphasized that the event is designed to encourage supporting the arts and to give local young artists an opportunity to broaden their perspective and learn about what art can offer them.
“Maybe a student has taken an art class and they had the opportunity to use a few tools and learn some techniques, but maybe they’ve never been exposed to oil pastels or gouache,” said Bork. “Then they come on campus and see works done by their peers who are young artists just like them, and then they realize, ‘This is something I can do, too.’”
“Or maybe there’s an artist just drawing in their room and asking themselves, ‘Is this any good? Would anyone like this quirky drawing of my favorite band?’” said Bork. “This is their opportunity to test it out, to show off their art and start a discussion about what they make. It’s about having an audience for what you create.”
The exhibition also offers prizes for selected winners. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $300, while the second- and third-place winners will receive $200 and $100, respectively. Honorable mentions will receive $50 art gift cards. In addition to the cash prizes, the top five winners will receive Lyon College Art Scholarships of up to $500 per year.
“There’s an opportunity to get into the exhibition, which is a great recognition in itself, but then there are the awards with prize money associated with them which hopefully sparks the idea that, ‘Hey, I can get paid for my art,’” said Bork.
Bork emphasized that he hopes the event can highlight to local young artists the possibility of finding a future in art, “whether it’s just a hobby, a major you pursue, or a career, there are pathways.”
These submissions will be juried by Mountain Home artist and guest juror, Dusty Mitchell. The selected pieces will then be gathered and showcased in the Kresge Gallery, located in the Alphin Humanities Building on Lyon College’s campus.
“We specifically chose a professional that is not in the area to remain objective and unbiased,” said Bork. “After the selections have been made, it is possible for up to 30 pieces to be in the final show.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday, May 19, to Friday, Aug. 4, providing ample time for art enthusiasts and visitors to witness the creative expressions of these young artists. The exhibit is a fantastic opportunity for these students to showcase their skills and gain recognition for their hard work.
“Even if you didn’t submit, come out to the gallery,” said Bork. “See what was selected, see what the community can create. Come support the arts and support the community that creates these wonderful pieces.”
For more information about BAYA or the Lyon College Art program, please contact Dustyn Bork at dustyn.bork@lyon.edu.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.