Bloomingdale Students to Exhibit at Dali Museum

Things are looking a bit surreal these days for four Bloomingdale High Schools students. But they don't mind.

The students -- Kassie Hoffman, Alex McCausland, Amanda Hymer and Cindy Balladares -- are among an elite group of Hillsborough and Pinellas county students to be selected for the Student Surrealist Art Exhibition at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.

For Hoffman, 18, it's a dream come true to have her work exhibited in a gallery with the work of her mentor, Salvador Dali.

Her painting, "Ferris Wheel Sinking into the Ocean," created with tempera paint, was among the student works to be juried into the student show.

"I'm really excited," said Hoffman. "This is the first painting I've had displayed in a real gallery."

Hoffman, who enjoys surreal subjects and cartoons, has been painting since the age of 4.

"Ever since I can remember, painting is the only thing that's made sense to me," said Hoffman, who hopes to major in art and work as a professional artist one day.

Fellow Bloomingdale High School student McCausland was equally amazed to be included in the student exhibit at the Dali Museum.

"I worked really hard on this project," said McCausland, 17, of his surrealistic tempera painting. "I worked during lunch, after school and all night."

McCausland plans a career in photography and graphic design.

Balladaras and Hymer were particularly surprised to be chosen for the Dali exhibit since this is the first piece of art for both of them.

"It's my first time painting," said Balladaras, 17, who chose acrylics for her medium. "I really didn't expect them to pick my painting."

"It's really exciting," said Hymer, 16, who plans to go into architecture or mechanical engineering.

"This is our fourth year to enter students in the Dali student exhibit," said Bloomingdale art teacher Diana Speedy. "Each year we have two to four pieces accepted in the juried show."

The newly constructed Dali Museum now has a designated room for student artwork, she added.

"It's a very big deal," she said. "Several hundred people attend the reception."

The student exhibit, "Strangely Familiar 2012," runs from Feb. 25 to April 10. A reception for the artists will take place March 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with awards presented at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.thedali.org/education.