Art students spent April 29 through May 2 in Casper for the annual State Art Symposium, an event art teacher Mrs. Frazier describes as “the only showcase in the nation of its kind.” Because Wyoming is small enough for every high school to compete against one another, the symposium brings in nearly 5,000 pieces of artwork—photography, digital art, painting, sculpture, and more—from around 70 different schools.
For many SVHS students, the experience offered not just competition, but genuine inspiration.
Held at the Ford Wyoming Center, the symposium fills the entire floor with student art. For people who have never attended, Mrs. Frazier says the event is both intense and motivating. “Each student’s artwork competed against almost 5,000 other pieces,” she explained. “It is pretty inspiring to see that much good work in a single space.”
The event doesn’t stop at viewing art. Students also participated in hands-on challenges, visited a professional art showcase, and interacted with students from around the state. “They meet other kids from different schools and do smaller, more fun challenges while they are down there,” Frazier said. “It is a really fun event that we love taking the students to.”
Art teacher Mr. Guild also emphasized the heart behind the event. “Events like these are important for these students to be able to express their talents through art,” he said. “It gives them an area where they can be successful where they might not be in other areas.”
A common theme among both teachers was the value of effort. Mrs. Frazier said that while people often call student artists “talented,” they miss the real story. “It is a little discouraging because they are taking away all the learned skills and hard work that the student put in,” she said. “Talent alone doesn’t finish anything for any subject or any person. Art is also a learned skill like math, English, etc.”
She hopes students walk away with the confidence to experiment and push themselves. “The skills I hope kids take away from working with me are to learn to learn and experiment,” she said.
Guild echoed the message: “The students who were the most successful were the ones that worked the hardest.”
He also credited the strong performance of SVHS to his colleague. “Most of that is due to the incredible Mrs. Frazier,” he said. “She does an outstanding job with these art students. The students love her, and she pulls the very best that they have out of them. She is the best.”
For the artists themselves, the symposium created moments they say they’ll never forget.
Senior Mckenna Klindt took an astonishing 19 pieces to the event, an accomplishment in itself. “I had 3 chosen for the top 25, and that is a feeling I can’t really describe,” she said. “I was so excited to see my hard work pay off.”
Klindt believes the symposium plays an important role in helping young artists grow. “It gives students a chance to create something amazing and show it to others,” she said. “It pushes us to grow and find a place in this high school.” She added that the trip was “one of my favorite trips this year” and that she will “forever keep art in my life.”
Senior Molly Roberts also spoke highly of the event. To her, the sheer scale of the artwork on display is unforgettable. “You spend most of your time looking at so many different pieces of artwork, whether it’s the high school pieces that fill the entire floor of the Casper Events Center or the professional art displayed at the Nicolaysen Museum,” she said.
Roberts enjoyed the hands-on parts of the trip as much as the competition. “There are also a lot of fun activities and competitions throughout the event,” she said, listing the newspaper dress competition, Mural Mania, and various art challenges.
When it came to having her own work displayed, she described the feeling as both exciting and validating. “It’s really exciting just to have a piece selected for State Art because it shows that all of your hard work paid off,” she said. “Seeing your artwork displayed and knowing that so many people will get the chance to see and appreciate it is amazing.”
She encourages anyone with the opportunity to participate to take it. “Art Symposium is such an inspiring experience because you get to see so many different styles and skills that can motivate you to continue to improve your own artwork,” she said. “I would definitely recommend going if you get the chance.”
Between the student awards, the powerful artwork from across the state, and the strong support from teachers, this year’s symposium was a standout event.
Mr. Guild hopes what students remember most is simple: “the fun they had and being able to spend time with friends,” along with the reminder that “hard work pays off.”
With thousands of pieces of art, dozens of new connections, and plenty of memories made, the State Art Symposium continues to strengthen the art program and inspire the next generation of artists to keep creating, experimenting, and learning.
