The Ouachita Parish School District is hosting a talented art exhibition at the Student Support Services Building in West Monroe, Louisiana, featuring 270 pieces across 33 categories by middle and high school students. The show includes one winner per category, with the high school division's overall winner being a self-portrait titled "Spilling the Tea" by a graduating senior. The exhibition is open through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The exhibition matters because it highlights the value of arts education in public schools and the creative development of young artists. Teachers Leslee Galant and Lissy Compton emphasize that the skills students learn—such as intentionality, creative problem-solving, and self-worth—extend beyond the classroom into real life, and they encourage students to pursue careers in art despite the stereotype of the "starving artist."