Student art exhibition returns to Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum is showcasing artwork by Beaufort County high school students in a juried exhibition that opened April 1, museum officials said.

The 5th annual Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition features more than 100 works by students from public and private schools, including Beaufort High School, Bluffton High School, Bridges Preparatory School, Cross Schools, Hilton Head Island High School, Hilton Head Preparatory School, May River High School and Heritage Academy. The exhibition will be on view through May 5 in the museum’s main gallery. The image for the exhibition’s postacard was designed by Elliot Pearson, a ninth-grade student at Hilton Head Island High School.

An opening reception is scheduled for April 9 from 5 to 7 p.m., with an awards presentation at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

“Walking through the exhibition, you see how our high school students are experimenting and expressing themselves through art,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, the museum’s director of exhibitions. “Across painting, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and digital art, it’s a reflection of the value of arts education to inspire creativity and innovation.”

This year’s juror is Jessie Peterson Tarazi, a contemporary painter based on Hilton Head Island and a graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the New York Academy of Art and has studied with contemporary painters Jenny Saville and Vincent Desiderio.

“As someone who was raised in this community and has built a career as a professional artist, it’s especially meaningful to see the museum’s continued commitment to supporting emerging talent,” Tarazi said. “The students demonstrated an impressive level of creativity, technical skill, and individuality—the depth of talent on display is truly inspiring.”

The museum is located at 70 Honey Horn Drive. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The museum and grounds will be closed April 5, April 18 and April 19.