High school artists' work usually resides in their bedroom or the classroom. So for them and their supporters, there's something about getting the chance to display the products of their creativity in a museum that offers its own particular thrill.

"So many parents and grandparents and relatives like to come and see their relatives' work in a museum setting," says Terry Oldham, director of Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. "It's much different than seeing it at the mall or seeing it in the classroom, and they really like that."

This weekend, 142 students from local and regional schools will get some space to showcase their work at the museum's Annual Regional High School Exhibition. The exhibit will be on display from March 8 through April 9 with an opening reception from 1 to 4 p.m. March 8.

The high schoolers' work on display at Albrecht-Kemper was initially selected by art teachers from schools in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Thirty-eight teachers from 30 area schools chose the pieces that will be on display in St. Joseph and will be judged by three independent jurors who will hand out first, second and third place awards, along with honorable mentions, in numerous categories based on mediums. And the mediums include a bit of everything, like film and digital photography, printmaking, paintings in oil, acrylic and water color, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.

This a particularly well-attended exhibit at Albrecht-Kemper, according to curator of education Jennifer Zeller, who is continually impressed by the work that materializes from these young creative minds.

"We say this every year, but it's true every year: The quality gets better and better," she says. "I think it only helps them to raise the bar."

And for these high school artists, coming in contact with so much art from their own age group is beneficial for their future work.

"I think that they're able to compare and compare their work to their peers," Zeller says. "The more they can see and view, the better that is for them."

The exhibit is an obvious attraction for friends and family of the artists involved, but the everyday art enthusiast can also come and take away something positive.

"Everybody that walks in the door and goes to the high school show is going to find a piece that they love," Zeller says. "For the average person ... it's just nice to see what our youth can do. It kind of gives you a bit of hope for the future."