Salad Days are here again!
After a few years off due to the pandemic, the Salad Days Juried Exhibition of Student Art returned this year with an opening reception and award presentation on Friday, March 10. The 32nd annual exhibit, featuring the works of St. Tammany Parish students from kindergarten to 12th grade, is currently on display in the George Dunbar Gallery Gallery at the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall.
“We are incredibly blessed to have so many talented students here in St. Tammany Parish and I would like to congratulate all the Salad Days artists,” said Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer. “I invite everyone to come to City Hall and see these amazing works of art.”
This year’s juror is Victoria Allen, an editorial illustrator, artist and art teacher. A former Salad Days student, Allen started painting when she was young and had work accepted into local and regional exhibits. Her more recent work has been showcased, recognized, and received awards in numerous exhibitions and competitions both statewide and nationally. Allen graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and then worked in New York City as an illustrator with Imaginary Forces. In 2020, she received her Master’s in Mass Communication and Certificate in Strategic Communications from Louisiana State University. She now works as a Social Media & Creative Strategist for TILT advertising agency in Baton Rouge and is also an Adjunct Professor of Visual Communication at LSU Manship.
Salad Days entries are divided into four age categories. First, Second, Third and Honorable Mentions are awarded in each category.
Category A (5 – 8 years old)
- 1st Place – Laura Chin, Flamingo
- 2nd Place – Matthew Landry, Blue Jay
- 3rd Place – Jack Tomasich, Monet of Flowers
- Honorable Mention – Dru Chagnard, The Lost Alligator
- Honorable Mention – Laura Chin, Springtime Bears
Category B (9 – 11 years old)
- 1st Place – Ashley Mannin0, Blue and Me
- 2nd Place – Owen Davenport, The Wolf and the Starry Night
- 3rd Place – Aaliyah Atamanyuk, Pretty in Pink
- Honorable Mention – Albert Bernard Jr., The Prince of Rails
- Honorable Mention – Dylan Landry, Bruce the Moose
- Participating artists – Joseph Bordes, Amelia Chin, Rhyan Higginbottom, Morgan Roberts, and Olivia Yi
Category C (12 – 14 years old)
- 1st Place – Hana Wall, To See Clearly
- 2nd Place – Hana Wall, Cursing Imagination
- 3rd Place – Max Stark, Tiger
- Honorable Mention – Melanie Clapp, Dog
- Honorable Mention – Cambrie Roger, A Glimpse of Peace
- Participating artist – Camille Hicks
Category D (15- 18 years old)
- 1st Place – Zoe Boudreaux, Fishy Business
- 2nd Place – Abigail Gumpert, Misery Loves Company
- 3rd Place – Connor Carollo, Chess with Grandpa
- Honorable Mention – Kaiden McKleroy, Apres la nuit
- Honorable Mention – Ella Steele, Serendipity
- Participating artists – Kate Marks, Nhi Nguyen, Alexis Cierra St. Romain, Rylie Richards, and Isabella Vindell
The Slidell Cultural Center is located at 2055 Second Street, on the first floor of Slidell City Hall. Gallery Hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 4 p.m. Gallery viewings are by appointment only by calling the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. Same day appointments are available. Admission is free.
