Rhinelander ArtStart is celebrating the evolution of artists from kindergarten to graduate school in the final exhibition of the 2013 season. 
The ArtSchool Exhibitions: From Start to Art opened Thursday, Nov. 21, in the ArtStart Gallery.

Featured is Masters of Art: University Graduate Student Art, curated by Breanna Norton and co-sponsored by WXPR Public Radio, and The FishPrize Competition: Elementary School K-3 Student Art, curated by Barbara Sholl. Ripco Credit Union, GFWC Rhinelander Womans Club and Rhinelander Kiwanis Club are co-sponsors of the FishPrize exhibit.

The two exhibitions honor arts education from elementary school art classes to the works of university graduate students who have reached the pinnacle of their formal fine arts education. ArtStart Development Director Laura Ehmann said that the FishPrize exhibit offers food for thought for all aspiring artists.

“This is where we all started, where all artists started,” Ehmann said. “It would be interesting to see the work of these young artists 20 years from now when some of them are getting their Master’s in Fine Art. Students from Crescent Elementary School, Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School, Old School Arts and Learning Center, and Pelican Elementary School contributed work to the exhibit.”

The Masters of Art collection includes works by “cutting edge graduate student artists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” ArtStart President Ken Juon said. “The work you will see is highly conceptual and will challenge the viewer. We are proud to bring their passion and creativity to ArtStart.”

ArtSchool Exhibitions will be on display from the now through Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. ArtStart will host a special Holiday Open House Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m., and eight elementary school artists will be awarded FishPrize ribbons and prizes. A professional baker is designing cookies decorated with images of the students’ artwork, and these will be served as refreshments.

ArtStart Gallery is located at 68 S. Stevens St. across from McDonald’s in Rhinelander. Gallery hours are Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 1 to 7 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge to view these exhibitions.