Student Art Exhibition
Celebrating a new generation of artists
A key element of the Edmonds Arts Festival’s mission is to promote exposure to art and art education to the youth in our community. Partnering with the Edmonds School District, the Festival is one of the premier student art events in the United States, displaying more than 1,100 pieces of art from K-12 students. The 2024 gallery showcased art from 32 Edmonds School District schools, private schools, and individual home-schooled students residing within the boundaries of the Edmonds School District.
Student Art Participation
Artwork is selected through two different procedures, School Select and Open Class.
School Select: Based on student population, each participating school is given an allotment of pieces they may display. It is the school’s choice as to how they decide which pieces to submit.
Open Class Select: K-12 student artists who do not have the School Select option, or did not qualify through the School Select program, are invited to submit art for consideration through Open Class selection. Open Class is juried by two professional artists.
“The ocean is full of life — fish, whales, coral, and so many amazing animals. But when people throw trash or spill oil, the ocean gets hurt.
The ocean is strong, but it needs our help. If we take care of it, the ocean will sparkle with colors again. “
2025 Edmonds Arts Festival Student Art Exhibit Poster
This year’s Student Poster artist is Elise Chan, a 3rd grader at Challenge Elementary (at Terrace Park Elementary). It is titled: "Resilience" and drawn in colored pencil and watercolor.
Artist’s Statement
I wanted my artwork to show two big contrast scenes at the same time — one beautiful and full of life, and the other sad and polluted — and also the human effort to help the ocean that can make things better.
When I was coloring the bright part of the ocean, I felt happy and used the cheerful colors. But for the dark-side polluted water, I used real dirty water on purpose. That’s a little secret hidden in my art.
About the Artist
Elise Chan is 9 years old and a third grader at Challenge Elementary. She is participating in the Edmonds Arts Festival for the third time — with “A Tree in the Summer Sunset” (2023, School Pick), “My Favorite Place” (2024, One of Top Honors), and “Resilience” (2025). She loves drawing, and when she’s not creating art, she enjoys getting lost in books and writing stories of her own. She started a Save the Animals club at school and loves being part of it.
Meet the Open Class Select Jurors
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Jennifer de Mello e Souza
Jennifer De Mello e Souza is a dedicated artist and educator with a passion for nature studies, ceramics, and natural science illustration. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in curiosity and growth, exploring the intricate relationships between the natural world and human expression. Whether through painting, sculpture, or functional ceramics, she embodies a thoughtful and hands-on approach to artmaking.
As a teaching artist, Jennifer fosters creativity and critical thinking in her students, guiding them to develop their artistic voices while embracing self-identity and cultural heritage. She teaches high school ceramics, emphasizing process, experimentation, and craftsmanship. Her classrooms are collaborative spaces where students build confidence through artistic exploration. She is also deeply invested in student growth, helping young artists balance technical skill-building with a deep respect for the creative journey, inspiring the next generation of makers and thinkers.
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Jordan Swain
Jordan Swain is an artist, designer and photographer with over 20 years of experience in the creative field. Her work spans all media - 2D, 3D and everything in between and has been collected worldwide. With a BFA, MA and National Board Certification in Fine Arts, she is passionate about teaching and inspiring others through art.