Every year, Gallery at the Park presents a Scholarship Show to celebrate the unique work of student artists!
The primary exhibition is of a Visual Arts MFA student attending a university in Washington, Idaho, or Oregon. Jurors Mary Dryburgh and Tracy Walker selected Jill Kyong, a student at the University of Idaho, as the scholarship recipient and exhibition artist for 2024.
Jill Kyong creates sculptural wall art, furniture, and sculpture primarily out of wood. Her work has been juried in to exhibitions across the United States, including The Art Center Highland Park in Chicago and the Boise Art Museum where she won a juror’s award. She was recently invited to show at the American Association of Woodturners Gallery of Wood Art in St. Paul, MN, and is exhibiting work at JDS Gallery’s Pioneer Square Art Walk in Seattle.
Kyong creates beautiful works of art through minimalist forms and geometric proportions inspired by the tranquil beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She aims to capture the essence of nature’s magnificence juxtaposed against the tragedy of the human condition.
Central to Kyong’s artistic expression is the theme of connection. She utilizes stones she makes from wood as symbolic representations of the human need to connect. When stacked, these stones embody strength and solidarity, but when separated, they serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges we face in establishing meaningful connections. Kyong also incorporates interactive elements like movable stones, cubes, and birds, which invite viewers to engage with the artwork, empowering them to shape their own interpretation and actively participate in the artistic experience.
Gallery at the Park’s Scholarship Show also features work from a student in the Visual Arts Program at Columbia Basin College. This year, the CBC Art Department selected Lee Ethridge.
Lee Ethridge is a graphic designer and video editor native to Washington. They are currently a freshman at Columbia Basin College completing their transfer associate degree and plan to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Film at Central Washington University.
Ethridge has created art their entire life, but has a special love for digital art, preferring to focus on the mixture of makeup, photography, and color grading.
The Scholarship Show will be on display from March 26 — April 20.
The reception will be on April 7, from 1 — 3pm.
