Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking five questions. The latest installment appears below.

SLIPPERY ROCK — In the past, Heather Hertel could just as easily have been found with an oar in her hand as a paint brush.

The assistant professor of art at Slippery Rock University attended Syracuse University on an athletic scholarship for crew and was captain of the rowing team before she graduated with a bachelor's in fine art.

She was the novice women's rowing coach at the University of Miami while she pursued painting.

When she returned to the University of Syracuse to work on her master's in art education, she coached rowing as a graduate assistant.

Following a second stint in Miami where she worked both at a charter school and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, she received her master of fine arts from Edinboro University.

Since then, Hertel said, “I have switched my focus to sailing regattas because during the summer I train and race competitively.” She races a J35 sailboat on Lakes Erie, Ontario and Michigan.

On the faculty at Slippery Rock since 2008 and having a small child leaves her with little time for sailing or rowing. That's especially true since this is the third year that she's acted as juror for the annual Butler County High School art exhibit at The Art Center operated by the Associated Artists of Butler County.

“It's a difficult process because of the sheer size of the show. All of the entries are shown, whereas in national juried exhibitions work is submitted but not exhibited,” Hertel said. “That's why this show is special. Actually on the high school level, this is encouraging.”

Hertel paused in her perusal of the exhibit's 400 pieces of art to answer five questions.

QUESTION: How do you judge art?ANSWER: For this show, I look for technical ability, I look for creativity. That answer might seem obvious, but because I have viewed art both as an artist and an educator, I look for a piece that stands out.How is this different?How is it unique?Sensitivity to the medium. Technical ability is individual to each of the six categories.It is the elements and principals of design. How does that piece attract my eye? How does that piece hold my eye?And one more criteria specific to this exhibit, because I am aware these are high school class projects: How has the student created the work beyond the assignment?”

QUESTION: What place does art have in our lives?ANSWER: Art is everywhere. It is very important that we encourage young students, children, how to explore and how to invent.I think of art as exploration and invention. These students are our future leaders. Art opens our perception. If we are teaching young minds to create, invent and explore, then they will be seeing in new ways. I'm definitely an advocate for art for all ages.

QUESTION: Is there such a thing as bad art?ANSWER: I guess I would have to answer that from the perspective that bad art is art that is unfulfilled. No, there is no bad art, it is just not fully realized.Art is also communication. If the art is not communicating effectively the artist's intent, then it needs to be more fully resolved.I tell my students there aren't any bad ideas. It's the execution of your ideas; it's how you are communicating through uniqueness and technical ability and sensitivity to the idea.

QUESTION: What would you tell the exhibitors at this show?ANSWER: Keep making art. Keep looking at art and venture to places outside your high school and your computer to see it with real-time humanity. Go to other shows, go to the Carnegie in Pittsburgh.For me, there's nothing like being confronted by an actual piece of work.

QUESTION: Do you need your muse to strike to work?ANSWER: If I were able to paint every day, I would. I see the world through my art and as a professional artist. The responsibility to my work is to work with discipline.I tell my students, an idea is 10 percent of the problem. Ninety percent would be the ability to convey that idea.Monet had a painting, asparagus on a white tablecloth. It's absolutely gorgeous. He probably just glanced over and saw it.A crumpled-up piece of paper can lead to other worlds.

<b>WHAT: </b>Associated Artists of Butler County annual Butler County High School Art Exhibit, 400 works of art from 195 artists representing seven county intermediate and high schools.<b>WHERE: </b>The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.<b>WHEN: </b>Through April 13<b>HOURS:</b> Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Fridays.<b>INFO: </b>724-283-6922