Art aficionados were out in force Friday night in downtown Centralia for the 2023 Young Artists Show opening gala at the Rectangle Gallery & Creative Space.
A total of 20 artists between the ages of 7 and 12 participated, with artwork on display and on sale alongside the rest of the art currently at the Rectangle Gallery. Originally, 24 kids signed up, but one family had to cancel at the last minute, according to Rectangle Gallery owner Jan Nontell.
In an email to The Chronicle, Nontell said the majority of the kids’ artwork sold during the gala, but a few pieces are still available.
“The artwork of these amazing kids will be on display at the Rectangle Gallery until May 3,” Nontell said.
All artists participating are treated as professional artists by Nontell. She walks them through signing art gallery contracts, what galleries expect from artists and what it’s like to both sell and not sell artwork.
The annual Young Artists Show has been going on since the gallery’s opening in 2016 and is the most popular event the gallery hosts according to Nontell. Once a young artist turns 13, they are able and encouraged to participate in the Emerging Artists Show held at the Rectangle Gallery, for kids between the ages of 13 and 18.
Registration for the Emerging Artists Show begins Saturday, July 1, at 11 a.m., according to Nontell.
The Rectangle Gallery & Creative Space is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 209 N. Tower Ave., Centralia.
The 20 artists who participated were:
• Callen Best
• Sarah Phillips
• Eliza Phillips
• Edward Sanchez
• Keira Lainson
• Violet Tso
• Rozlin Cari
• Jeffrey Schoonover
• Katrien Schoonover
• Soleil Ramirez Anaya
• Ceejay Martin
• Addison Schwall
• Bethany Regan
• Cassie Mikesell
• Ezekiel Kurtzbein
• Sophia Richardson
• Lily Richardson
• Zoey Newton
• Sophie Notch
• Iyana Rubin
