The Youth Art Exhibition at the Palo Alto Center, which began May 14 and runs until June 4, features an array of artwork by students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The colorful artwork and inventive sculptures send bright messages to young artists.

The opening reception on May 17 included presentations of the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation Graduating Senior Awards and Public Art Commission Purchase Awards. Among the many talented students who had their art featured at the exhibition were around 30 Gunn students. Award winners included juniors Julia Levoy and Lucy Li.

Senior Cooper Elliot was the only high school student to have his work displayed in the Palo Alto city collection. Elliot, currently enrolled in the ceramic sculpture class, created a giraffe sculpture out of driftwood. “I enjoy working with different materials,” he said.

Every year the Palo Alto Art Commission picks two or three pieces from the youth art exhibition for display in the Palo Alto art collection. The commission bought the chosen art pieces with a savings bond and then showed the pieces around the city.

Art teacher Deanna Messinger, though not a member of the art commission, helps choose pieces to be exhibited at the art center. “I’m like a curator,” Messinger said. “I start out with a stack of artwork. I bring these chosen from there to the Art Center, and with the others we see which ones work best together for the exhibit.”

Besides the award presentation on opening night, a hands-on art workshop for high school students was offered for free to pre-registers. Micky Hebart runs the workshops, ranging from painting to ceramic sculpture, at the art center. “The relationship between the cultural center and schools are extremely supportive,” Hebart said. “The workshops have gone on for more than 15 years, and the exhibitions at least 30 years. Everyone is extremely supportive.”

The annual youth art event is in conjunction with Cultural Kaleidescope, which is a program that partners elementary schools of the Palo Alto Unified School District and Ravenwood School District. These exhibitions are completely funded by outside sponsors, such as Adobe Systems and the Bead Shop.