For the next month, artwork from students at Symmes Valley High School will be on display at the Huntington Museum of Art.

The school is one of the area high schools participating in the museum’s annual Portfolio student art exhibition.

Samantha Hall, a junior, Stan Harris, a sophomore, Kari Brumbaugh, a sophomore Terra Williams, a senior, and Makenna Patterson, a sophomore, each have a work of art in the exhibition.

“They’re very talented,” Sandy Sweetser, their art teacher, said. “Most of them aren’t going on to major in art. They just have a lot of ability.”

Sweetser chose the artwork to be displayed according to the strength of each piece.

“They’re the ones that were the most interesting or the strongest,” she said. “(The exhibit accepts) one (piece) per student so that sort of limited what I could take.”

The students’ work includes a collage, papier mache and drawings.

Students from middle schools and high schools in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky participate in the show, which features over 140 pieces.

Besides Symmes Valley High School, Cabell Midland, Huntington, Lincoln County, Paul G. Blazer, Ravenswood, Ripley, St. Joseph Central Catholic, Spring Valley, Tolsia and Wayne high schools also participated. Students from several area middle schools also participated.

The exhibit, which is presented through a partnership with the Marshall University College of Fine Arts, provides a venue to feature young talent at the museum, John Gillispie, public relations director, said.

He added that there are plenty of events for young athletes, but not as many for young artists.

“If the museum is not going to do things for young artists, who is?” Gillispie said.

The student artists were honored with a reception Saturday. Natalie Larsen, an assistant art professor at Marshall University, critiqued the show.

“There was a big crowd Saturday, and you’ll get that,” Gillispie said. “Students bring their parents and grandparents. A lot of visitors just enjoy the exhibit too.

They’re just a lot of young talent and it’s nice to see them getting recognized for their talent.”

The museum staff members also enjoy the exhibit.

“I particularly like to see the exhibit because it lets you know what the kids are thinking about,” he said. “Sometimes teenagers are quiet around adults but their work lets know know what they are thinking.”

The exhibition will be on display through May 22.