Art Projects of Regional High Schools to be Featured in Annual BAM Inspired Exhibition

11/05/2025

JONESBORO - Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) at Arkansas State University will host an opening reception for "hikâye | story" and the annual "Inspired" exhibition from 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, following an artist talk from "Inspired" juror Somayeh Faal.

Faal is the artist featured in "Echoes of Silent Migration," which will continue to be on view alongside "hikâye | story" and "Inspired" through Wednesday, Dec. 17. Admission to the talk, reception, and exhibitions is free.

The Inspired program invites regional high school students to create artwork in response to what they see during a fall semester tour of BAM. Students submit their work and artist statements virtually for consideration by a juror, the person tasked with the selection of the work included in the culminating Inspired exhibition.

Inspired allows local students to experience contemporary artwork in person while at BAM, and it gives them an early introduction to the professional practices necessary for a career as an artist.

This year, students were inspired by three concurrent fall exhibitions: "stil/leven, still/even," "Taking Up Space," and "Echoes of Silent Migration." The juror for this year's Inspired exhibition is Somayeh Faal, the interdisciplinary artist featured in "Echoes of Silent Migration." Faal will be present at the reception and will be speaking about her creative practice beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Grand Hall of Fowler Center.

Out of over 160 submissions from 14 regional schools, Faal selected the works included in this exhibition. She also selected a number of award winners from the entries. The names of the students whose work was accepted will be announced after the exhibition opening.

Participating schools include Academies at Jonesboro High School, Bay High School, Blytheville High School, Brookland High School, Corning High School, Consolidated Youth Services, Corning High School, Harrisburg High School, Highland High School, Marked Tree High School, Paragould High School, Ridgefield Christian School, Trumann High School, Valley View High School, and Walnut Ridge High School.

Award winners will be announced at the reception and will be displayed on tags beside the work.

"hikâye | story" is a solo exhibition of work by Lydia Dildilian, assistant professor of painting at A-State. The show will feature Dildilian's creative research on miniature painting and diasporic culture as informed by her recent travel to Turkey. She will also lead a miniature watercolor painting workshop from 2 - 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Bradbury Art Museum.

Bradbury Art Museum is in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr. Hours are noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free. For additional information about the exhibition, one may email [email protected] or call 870-972-3765.