By AARON MUELLER
Cassopolis Vigilant

Last weekend when Stephanie Vlasicak walked through the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, it was unlike any other time she walked through an art gallery. Two of her works were among just 117 selected for the KIA high school art show.

“I walked in and saw all these amazing pieces of work right on the wall next to mine,” she said. “I thought ‘no way are those mine.'”

This was the first time that the Cassopolis High School senior had ever entered the KIA art show, so she had no idea what to expect.

“I didn’t think I would make it to the finals at all,” Vlasicak said. “So to have two of them selected (for the show) was really cool. I felt like I was on top of the world.”

The annual juried competition is open to high school artists under the age of 18 residing in Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and VanBuren counties. Nearly 400 entries were received, 117 of which were accepted.

One of her accepted works is a graphite self-portrait. It was special to her, because she drew the whole self-portrait while in an arm cast after a volleyball injury.

“It means a lot to me, because it took a lot of time, and I didn’t let the injury get in my way,” she said.

The other piece is an acrylic painting of a photo of Vlasicak and her sister at a baseball game.

Vlasicak currently takes art classes for college credit at Cassopolis High School through Kendall University, where she will study art in the fall.

“I’m interested in art therapy, because I’ve always been interested in helping children and I love art. So I want to combine the two,” she said.

“That and teachers don’t get paid enough,” she joked.