By Pete Smith
Clowes Memorial Hall, in cooperation with the Hoosier Writing Project at IUPUI, will host an exhibition of winning artwork from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards through March 9.
The exhibition, “Art.Write.Now.”, is a sample of the winning artwork and writing entries from high school and junior high school students from central and southern Indiana.
The Gold Key winners move on to New York City for adjudication at the national level.
University High School student Annie Chen’s sculpture is one of the artworks that will move on to the national competition.
“After the initial surprise, I felt weirdly uncomfortable because here was a piece that I had not put any conscious planning or thought into making, and it turned out so well,” she said. “I had no expectations when starting that sculpture as well as when entering the Scholastic contest for the first time my senior year.”
But after the shock wore off, a feeling of pride took over.
“The Gold Key award was an interesting reminder that my instincts and subconscious have more to offer than I had thought,” Chen said.
Carmel High School student Sarah Bruns won two Gold Key awards for jewelry and for drawing. She said she’ll know the results of the national contest by March 17.
“It is an amazing feeling to win any award at the National Scholastics Art & Writing competition because it means that your work was strong enough to stand out and catch someone’s eye,” Bruns said. “I put in a lot of time and effort to show my passion to others, and it’s a great feeling to be recognized for my creativity and hard work.”
Carmel High School student Alex Mikev won four Gold Key awards, two silver keys and an honorable mention. He also submitted a portfolio of artwork which received a Silver Key.
His drawing titled “The Observers” is an American Vision Nominee, which is equivalent to a best in show award within the regional competition. This piece was also chosen to be the cover of an Anthology created for this year’s competition.
“This is one piece from my portfolio which encompasses a story of my own natural progression as an artist,” Mikev said. “I particularly enjoy this piece because it illustrates the idea of the beginning of a journey to self improvement, which is where I find myself currently. Although I may have achieved notable technical drawing ability, my scope of art and why art should be made still has much room for exploration.”
Overall, Mikev said the awards process has been a very exciting and rewarding experience.
The following are Gold Key award winners and will have their work featured in the national competition: Annie Chen from University High; and Sarah Bruns, Katie Matthews, Madison Tubbs, Katy Voor, Aaron Ibey, Sharmaine Nepomuceno, Rachel Chen, Connie Chu, Garen Gibbs, Alexis Hicks, Misheel King, Alex Mikev, Drew Moreland, Jieun Yu, Hannah Zipes, Benjamin Durcholz and Yuchun Chen of Carmel High School.
The following students received Silver Key awards: Sarah Bruns, Katya Frakine, Dana Hsu, Riley Helgeland, Tessa Imperial, Mary Kane, Katie Matthews, Aaron Ibey, Laura Kniola, Justine Schneider, Mckenna Straton, Connie Chu, Sam Holloway, Katie Matthews, Alex Mikev, Dorothy Nguyen, Jessica Tian, Jessica Tian, Jieun Yu, Meridian Culpepper and Hemima Tapia of Carmel High School.
The following students received honorable mentions: Amelia Eskenazi and Jordan Dalton of University High School; and Sarah Bruns, Tessa Imperial, Hannah Khilevich, Katy Voor, Ellen Bankston, Aaron Ibey, Rachel Krieger, Alyssa Miller, Sharmaine Nepomuceno, Lauren Raleigh, Justine Schneider, Yunping Wang, Connie Chu, Grace Hawkins, Alex Mikev, Dorothy Nguyen, Jessica Tian, Katy Voor, Emma Zvonar, Meridian Culpepper and Rachael Seidensticker of Carmel High School.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have an impressive legacy dating back to 1923 and a noteworthy roster of past winners including Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford and Joyce Carol Oates.
The Awards are an important opportunity for students to be recognized for their creative talents. Each year, more than 100 visual and literary-arts focused organizations across the country bring the awards to local communities.
Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published.
