The 4^th annual Laurine Kimmel High School Art Exhibition showcasing artwork by juniors and seniors in eleven southeast Nebraska schools opens on Monday, March 14, at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City. The exhibition features works created from a variety of media by more than forty budding artists.

The works on exhibit are selected by art educators in the participating high schools: Auburn Public, Falls City Public, Falls City Sacred Heart, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer Public, Johnson-Brock Public, Johnson County Central Public, Lourdes Central Catholic, Nebraska City Public, Pawnee City Public, Sterling Public, and Syracuse Public.

The Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation sponsors this exhibition in memory of Laurine Kimmel, an artist herself, and graduate of Nebraska City High School. The exhibition is made possible through the cooperation of Nebraska Educational Service Unit 4, art teachers in participating schools, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts.

In addition to displaying the talent and hard work of area students, the Laurine Kimmel High School Art Exhibition offers participating schools the opportunity to apply for monetary allowances to support art education in their classrooms.

An opening reception in honor of the students, their families and art teachers is open to the public on Saturday, March 19, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the gallery. The exhibition runs through April 30, 2011.

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is located at 801 3rd Corso in Nebraska City and is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. Appointments at other times are encouraged: please call ahead. Both the exhibit and the reception are free, handicapped accessible, and open to the public.