Ceramics creations made by Negaunee High School students are on display during Thursday’s High School Art Show at the Marquette Arts and Culture Center. Area high school students showed their artwork, created in a variety of multimedia, at the show. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — Where can artwork depicting a steampunk guitar, the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and a snail be found under one roof?

The annual High School Art Show at the Marquette Arts and Culture Center.

An artist reception took place in the MACC’s Deo Gallery on Thursday, with patrons having plenty of time to look at the variety of art on display.

Creations such as rolled-paper art, pencil portraits, artwork depicting comic book scenes and advertisements with environmental messages were shown.

Some were traditional landscapes while others were more whimsical in nature, such as the drawing titled “Gary the Snail” by Abbie Viau of Marquette Senior High School; “Grilled Cheese Please,” a ceramic piece made with acrylic paint on clay by Anders Wolck of Marquette Alternative High School; and a ceramic two-headed snake by Zaida Pearson of Gwinn High School.

Tiina Harris, arts and culture manager for the city of Marquette, addressed the crowd before the awards recipients were announced.

“It is one of the most loved shows here — the variety, the talent,” Harris said. “People come in here all day long and go, ‘Oh, my God. Look at this artwork.'”

What makes the event special, she said, is the Northern Michigan University School of Art and Design and the Lake Superior Art Association handing out awards.

McKayla Quigley of Marquette Senior High School took first place in the NMU Art and Design competition with her colorful drawing of a hummingbird.

Quigley said it took her about four weeks to create her drawing using colored pencil and marker.

“I like the colors of the hummingbird,” said Quigley, who used a reference picture as inspiration.

Her hummingbird was extremely detailed with many strokes, which could make someone wonder how difficult it was to draw.

“It was at first, but I got the hang of it eventually,” she said.

Shannon Taylor of MSHS finished second for her drawing of actor Tom Hiddleston and an eye study, while MSHS’s Kevin Lee took third with his drawing of a steampunk guitar.

Honorable mentions went to Clair Slabaugh of MSHS for her artwork of a dog, Carmen Ollila of Negaunee High School for her crocheted Star Wars collection and elephant, and Rebecca Yunk of NHS for her painting of a camp scene.

Winner of the LSSA’s best of show competition was Jaiden Peterson of MSHS for his collage titled “Dreaming of Bigger Things,” while first place went to Sophie Bartlett of MSHS for “Popcorn Button, Portrait of Jefferey Dallas.”

Honorable mentions went to Danny Madjar of MSHS for his four drawings of the Beatles, Mia Heribacka of MSHS for her digital art and Jess Davis of MSHS for “The Dragon.”

LSSA board member JoAnn Shelby said deciding the winners was difficult.

“If we could give out 20 awards, we would,” Shelby said.

Harris put out a call for other community members to get involved in the local art scene.

“We are still looking for artists that want to have pop-up art shows, sing in the streets,” Harris said.

For more information, call 906-228-0472, email arts-culture@marquettemi.gov or visit marquettemi.gov/departments/community-services/arts-and-culture/. The MACC is located in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library.

The High School Art Show will run at the MACC through May 31.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.