Redmond Patch Whiz Kids: Student Artists at Redmond High School

Names: Etta Mehrens, Camila De Vincenzo, Emma Broback, Erin Johnson, Sophia Pandey, Kaylen Jackson, Shaun Sweeney, Kyla Smart, Dawna Chung, Sarah Richey, Hayato Udo, Abby Santos, Kristi Nakata, Tori Seidel, Aaron Klouzal, Annie Kim, Ted Daschle, Taylor Capps and Christoffer Hart-Hansen.

School:

Accomplishment: Many professional artists may wait several years before their work is deemed worthy enough to be displayed in public. But this group of young artists at Redmond High School has already cleared that hurdle. Their pieces, which incorporate various mediums, are on display at through April 29.

Key to Awesomeness: If you took SoulFood Books co-owner Sara Pelfrey's words out of context, you might not realize that she is talking about student artwork.

“It's amazing," Pelfrey said. "All of it is really fine, fine quality artwork."

For senior Ted Daschle, 18, the show at Soul Food marks the first time his art has been displayed outside of school. He currently has four pieces hanging up at the coffee shop, including portraits of jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

"It's really cool to have people actually see the art," he said while painting a cartoon-character mural outside an art classroom at Redmond High on Wednesday.

The pieces that are featured in the art show were selected by teachers, but the students themselves decided how to arrange the different compositions. Senior Kristi Nakata, 18, helped set up the show and said the students wanted a collage-type juxtaposition between the pieces.

"I think it's really cool, and it looks really great with all the different styles," Nakata said.

The student artwork will be on display at SoulFood Books through April 29. This Friday, the art students will join members of the school's choir, band, and orchestra for an evening of visual and performing arts. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m.