Student art submissions sought for Second Story Gallery show

The Second Story Gallery will “fill the gallery” with artwork by Camas elementary school students throughout the month of March.

Gallery organizers began opening the space to Camas student artists in 2022, after the gallery — located on the second floor of the Camas Public Library — reopened after being closed for the first two years of the COVID pandemic. The first student art show featured high school artists. Middle school artists had their own show the next year and, in 2024, the gallery dedicated an entire month to elementary school artists in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.

This year’s “Fill the Gallery! Elementary Art Exhibit” will open with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 7, and run through the month of March.

Camas outreach librarian Elliot Stapleton, who helped organize the Fill the Gallery event, said artwork submissions have been flowing in, but there is room for more. Stapleton encourages Camas area families with K-5 students to bring one to two pieces of art per student to the library and fill out a “Fill the Gallery” art label, available at the library’s service desk.

All art mediums are welcome, but Stapleton said the majority of students will likely submit paintings or drawings.

The gallery would like to receive all student artwork by Friday, Feb. 28, but Stapleton said submissions will be accepted at the library service desk through Thursday, March 6.

After the show has concluded, students can pick up their artwork at the library April 3-10.

All students are invited to take part in an Artist Talk event — where students can share and talk about their artwork and take part in a self-portrait activity — from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at the Second Story Gallery, located at 616 N.E. Fourth Ave., in downtown Camas.

For more information, visit cityofcamas.us/library/page/fill-gallery-m arch-2025.