The artistic talent of local high school students from Illinois and Iowa will be on display in downtown Fort Madison for the rest of April.
It is part of the Fort Madison Area Arts Association's annual competition.
Executive Director Brian Riggs says fewer entries were submitted this year, but "by division, the quality and technique level that really goes into the pieces (is) quite high."
He attributes that to the local art teachers, who are doing a much better job of judging the works before they are submitted.
The participating schools, this year, are Central Lee, Fort Madison, Hamilton, Harmony, Holy Trinity and Keokuk.
The competition includes regular categories such as paintings and drawings, as well as new ones like photography and ceramics.
Riggs says for just the second time in his 10+ years on the job, the best of show went to an abstract piece.
He believes that is a good sign for the regional art scene because "we are keeping with the times when you look at it in that general way.”
The exhibit can be viewed from 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Tuesday-Saturday at 825 Avenue G in downtown Fort Madison.
