ORANGE PARK – Creative student works of art were on display at the 34th Clay County District Schools Student Art Show last Friday and Saturday, with the talent and hard work of the elementary, middle school and high school students for public admiration at the Thrasher-Horne Center.

Hundreds headed to the event center to be immersed and the cultural experience of countless works inspired by several art types like self-portraits, ceramics, contemporary, modern art, pop art and other styles.

Students utilized their creative abilities to render their best impressions of self-portraits, animals, nature, food and more.

The submissions were reviewed by guest judges, including the Art Guild of Orange Park, College Drive Initiative, Clay Education Foundation, Orange Park Mall, County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, Clay County Fire and Rescue, County Public Library and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The event attracted thousands who wanted to see the beautiful works.

The art show’s community outreach room showcased the unique attributes of the school district and county.

Some of the winners included: Fleming Island High’s Kaitlyn Montgomery, Orange Park High’s Jasmine Hecht, Orange Park’s Trinity Dennison, Lakeside Junior High’s Katie Baird and Lake Asbury Junior High’s Callie Fenwick for Award of Excellence, Oakleaf High’s Yarilynn Rodriguez, Orange Park’s Faith Williams and Lake Asbury Junior High’s Alaina Buschle, Wilkinson Junior High’s Zick Macxis, Adrian Von Bargen and Haley Hajost for Best in Show, Lake Asbury’s Ryleigh Difiore and Buschle, Ridgeview High’s Trent Persinger, Clay’s Anja Wehner and Audrey Milligan, Fleming Island’s Audrey Freehafter, Orange Park’s Errica Freeman and Green Cove Springs Junior High’s Rorie Kenison for Judge’s Recognition and Lake Asbury’s Layla Glover, Orange Park’s Leylani Rodriguez-Perez, Fleming Island’s Sophia Fitzgerald and Ridgeview’s Annaleisa Williamson for Honorable Mention.

Local artists spoke with students and answered questions as several other vendors, like the UF/IFAS Clay County Extension Office, public library and teacher-ran art stations for students, with watercolor painting, rainbow pencil drawing and books featuring art-based themes available.

Food trucks, vendors, and music also were featured in the parking lot.

The successful ingredients were at the center after the show was held at the Orange Park Mall during the last three years.

“(The event) was 10 times more successful than I thought it would be, and I was impressed with the parents and kids that came,” said Karen McMillan, the district’s Coordinator for School Choice and Charter and a representative of the art show.

Superintendent David Broskie said the show highlighted the exceptional talent of the county’s students but also took on the theme that learning “is fun” – a process not always found in the traditional classroom.

“It’s great to see the multitude of talents from the students. Learning isn’t just all reading, writing, and arithmetic for the students,” he said.