The work of Wood River High School artists decorates the interior of the Hailey Public Library. The pairing of visual art with literary works fits accordingly.
Highlighting the visual art on display are the works of the fifth annual Ezra Pound Award for Visual Arts winners. The exhibit is on display through May.
"Ezra Pound was very, very inspiring and generous of other artists pursuing other venues. He was a mentor outside of the literary realm," said Minnette Broschofsky, who coordinates the award in her capacity as director of education for the Sun Valley Gallery Association.
The award celebrates Hailey-born poet Ezra Pound, who served as a mentor to aspiring artists. The award enables a Blaine County high school junior to pursue supplementary artistic education during the summer between the student's junior and senior year. Wood River Valley resident Jennifer Wilson funds the gift, offering up to $5,000 for the award recipient.
"Jennifer started the award in honor of (Pound's) generosity and provocation to other artists," Broschofsky said.
This year judges from the Sun Valley Gallery Association selected two winners, Kelcie McCallister and Marne Embry, both Wood River High School juniors, to receive the scholarship. The students received the scholarship based on their artistic portfolio along with a written statement detailing the inspiration for their entries and a proposal detailing how they intended to use the award.
"The awards were given not only from the talent they showed in their actual art work, but in the intention they set for their goals and continuing to pursue their art," Broschofsky added.
McCallister will use the scholarship to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. She will focus her artistic pursuits on Manga, the creation of Japanese comic books. The program offers McCallister a six-week study course focused on illustration and foundation drawing. Art history and basic design classes round out the program.
"Rhode Island School of Design encourages innovative ideas. Kelcie's art exemplifies the route that she has taken," Broschofsky said.
Embry embarks on a different artistic avenue, choosing the "Jumpstart" program at Oregon State University to pursue painting and drawing composition classes.
"Marne's work is quite traditional," commented Broschofsky. "She chose Oregon State University, where she can purse a traditional route and also pursue new ideas."
Both winners will attend their programs in the upcoming summer.
"Because it's the intention to spend part of the summer using the award, the students then come back and share their experience with their fellow students the following year," Broschofsky said.
With any luck, the artistic sharing will inspire fellow students and guide the young artists in their own pursuits—a collaboration that would have pleased Pound.
Kelcie McCallister received the Ezra Pound Award for Visual Arts for her unconventional artistic style.
