Bluffton High School senior and art student Amber Boop had her work "Sweet World" selected by a panel of judges to be part of the 52nd annual Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition. The exhibition opened at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, across from the State Capitol, on April 24 and closes near the end of May. 

Boop's entry is a white, red and dark brown striped dress made up of some 2,000 candy wrappers--mostly Tootsie Rolls--sewn onto a fabric base. The back of the bodice features a realistic hand-painted spine.

Boop's sweet but dark garment was inspired by Japanese street fashion. It took her some four months to construct the bodice and skirt. She has a love of fashion, sewing and things that are "out-there and strange." After graduation she hopes to do costume design for local theaters.

The dress is among 348 pieces of artwork on exhibit by Ohio high school students in grades 9-12. There were 8,069 artworks entered from the 15 regions across the state. Eight primary jurors reviewed 1,300 works to create the Governor's exhibit.

The "Sweet World" dress is also displayed online at http://www.govart.org/winners/2022winners.htm