Pencil drawing by Austin Vickers, a senior at Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown

The creativity of Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown senior Austin Vickers, junior Charlie Whitehead, and freshmen Ian Dawson and Avia Neff  are on display at the “2021 Tomorrow’s Artist Today” show, which runs Feb. 2 to March 4. The juried show, hosted by the Middletown Arts Center, showcases the talents of local middle and high school students.  Middletown Secondary art instructor Dylan Stark has been working with the young celebrated artists since the start of the school year.

Digital art piece by Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown freshman Ian Dawson

“Their work has blown me away,” says Stark. “The pieces from these four students prove their creativity and talent. I’m incredibly proud of these students for putting together pieces to enter the show.”

Vickers entered his pieces “Strength & Power,” “Deal” and “X” in the pencil drawings category. Meanwhile, Dawson entered “Battleground,” Neff entered “Night Sky” and Whitehead entered “Day & Night,” “Dreams” and “Life From Death” in the digital arts category.

Digital art drawing by Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown junior Charlie Whitehead

“With us doing remote learning thus far this school year, I felt it was a good time to explore the digital art field,” Stark says.

Digital art piece by Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown freshman Avia Neff

Utilizing a free online program that was accessible through Summit Chromebooks, Stark assigned a range of digital projects to students. Now those school projects will be on display at the in-person exhibit in Middletown Arts Center Main Exhibition Hall as well as via a virtual exhibit, which will open about halfway through the show.

“We are very excited about this opportunity for our kids,” says Summit Academy Secondary-Middletown Principal Kelli Frisby. “We have not offered art in years, so Mr. Stark is building this program from the bottom up. He has been an outstanding addition to our staff, and the students have been thrilled to have art on their schedule.”

Learn more about the show at Middletown Arts Center .