Eight young artists have been selected as winners in the West Virginia Division of Culture and History’s annual Youth Art Month Exhibition, which is on display through April 22 on the lower level of the Cultural Center to the left as you exit the elevator, at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The program is produced in cooperation with the West Virginia Art Education Association and the West Virginia Department of Education, in celebration of National Youth Art Month.
Each of the eight winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials at an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 16, in the Great Hall of the Cultural Center.
Another three works in the exhibition have been selected to represent West Virginia in the annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students. The Congressional Competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress and culminates in a summer exhibition at the United States Capitol building.
An additional two $100 awards will be given for Arts and Technology and Watercolor. The juror also picked two Honorable Mention Awards.
All winners were chosen by Charleston artist Ellie Schaul. A practicing artist for more than 40 years, Schaul has had solo exhibitions at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, the University of Charleston, The Art Store and at West Virginia State University. Her work is included in numerous collections including DiTrapano & Jackson, Edgewood Country Club, West Virginia State Museum Collection, United Bank and Tampa Museum of Art, to name a few. She has received many awards, including one of Charleston’s Women of Influence from the Charleston Daily Mail, Arts Volunteer Award 1991 from the Charleston Mayor’s Awards for the Arts, Governor’s Award from the West Virginia Juried Exhibition 1985 and the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the National Council of Jewish Women.
Her unique style of abstract realism uses bright colors and translucent washes which often extend to incorporate the frame with colorful borders and patterns. In addition to her art, Schaul has been the set designer for Kanawha Players, Charleston Light Opera Guild, Charleston Ballet and co-designer of the interior and exterior of the West Virginia Centennial Showboat Rhododendron. She is also the director of The Art Store, an art gallery and frame store in Charleston.
The Youth Art Month Exhibition consists of 65 pieces by 58 students, grades one-12, from 17 West Virginia counties. Artworks in the annual exhibition were selected from a statewide competition.
A list of the winners is enclosed along with a complete list of students whose work is included in the exhibition.
Youth Art Month was established to underscore the importance of including arts experiences in all students’ education. For more information about the Youth Art Month Exhibition, contact Charles Morris, collections and exhibits manager for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 704.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Youth Art Month Exhibition
Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston
Through April 22, 2007
Winners – Youth Art Month Exhibition
Glen Anderson, Grade 12, Parkersburg South High School, Wood County
Cassady Berry, Grade 8, Hayes Middle School, Kanawha County
Ethan Cross, Grade 4, Ravenswood Grade School, Jackson County
Krystynne Leacock, Grade 12, Woodrow Wilson High School, Raleigh County
Kelsey Meeks, Grade 10, Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler County
Kristen Parker, Grade 8, Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler County
Allison Williams, Grade 2, Ruffner Elementary School, Kanawha County
Lindsay Williams, Grade 10, Richwood High School, Nicholas County
Congressional Award Winners
Jennifer Bailey, Grade 12, Westside High School, Wyoming County
Adam Dennis, Grade 12, Tyler Consolidated High School, Tyler County
Bryant Gorrell, Grade 12, Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
Arts and Technology Award
Kayla Michael, Grade 10, North Marion High School, Marion County
Watercolor Award
Kaycee Smith, Grade 12, Parkersburg High School, Wood County
Honorable Mention Awards
Kelly Baker, Grade 7, Taylor County Middle School, Taylor County
Naly Damarputu, Grade 6, Elkins Middle School, Randolph County
Youth Art Month Participants
Boone County
Haleigh Foxx, Grade 5, Wharton Elementary School
Ian Lay, Grade 10, Scott High School
Draven Riffe, Grade 5, Madison Elementary School
Zackeriah Zornes, Grade 11, Van Junior/Senior High School
Jackson County
Vivian Anderson, Grade 7, Ripley Middle School
Ethan Cross, Grade 4, Ravenswood Grade School
Bryant Gorrell, Grade 12, Ravenswood High School
Tom Nay, Grade 12, Ravenswood High School
Jefferson County
Rachel Feldstein, Grade 8, Harpers Ferry Middle School
Joshua Hawkins, Grade 11, Jefferson High School
Ian Owen, Grade 12, Jefferson High School
Amy Tatina, Grade 11, Jefferson High School
Kanawha County
Cassady Berry, Grade 8, Hayes Middle School
Brianna Bowles, Grade 10, St. Albans high School
Josh Burks, Grade 5, Alban Elementary School
Allison Williams, Grade 2, Ruffner Elementary School
Marion County
Danielle Henderson, Grade 10, North Marion High School
Autumn Mercer, Grade 12, North Marion High School
Kayla Michael, Grade 10, North Marion High School
Mason County
Kelsi Boyd, Grade 12, Wahama Junior/Senior High School
Justin Gibbs, Grade 11, Wahama Junior/Senior High School
Jessica King, Grade 12, Point Pleasant High School
Colton Wright, Grade 7, Wahama Junior/Senior High School
Mingo County
Michael Brown, Grade 12, Mingo Career and Technical Center
Billy Sheppard, Grade 12, Mingo Career and Technical Center
Nicholas County
Natashia Baughman, Grade 8, Richwood Middle School
Telisha Green, Grade 8, Richwood Middle School
Lindsay Williams, Grade 10, Richwood High School
Ohio County
Nicholas Fledderus, Grade 8, Bridge Street Middle School
Ashley Green, Grade 8, Triadelphia Middle School
Dustine McNabb, Grade 6, Bridge Street Middle School
Matt Robinson, Grade 11, Wheeling Park High School
Raleigh County
Krystynne Leacock, Grade 12, Woodrow Wilson High School
Randolph County
Savannah Bibey, Grade 12, Elkins High School
Naly Damarputu, Grade 6, Elkins Middle School
Timothy Elmore, Grade 12, Elkins High School
Dustin Standrige, Grade 12, Elkins High School
Taylor County
Kelly Baker, Grade 7, Taylor County Middle School
Autumn Haught, Grade 8, Taylor County Middle School
Amber Ross, Grade 8, Taylor County Middle School
Tyler County
Adam Dennis, Grade 12, Tyler Consolidated High School
Kelsey Meeks, Grade 10, Tyler Consolidated High School
Kristen Parker, Grade 8, Tyler Consolidated Middle School
Emma Rucker, Grade 11, Tyler Consolidated High School
Upshur County
Brittany Carpenter, Grade 5, Tennerton Elementary School
Amy Dilworth, Grade 8, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School
Alexis McDaniels, Grade 5, Tennerton Elementary School
Brittany Williams, Grade 12, Buckhannon-Upshur High School
Wirt County
Matthew Banner, Grade 11, Wirt County High School
Amber Murphy, Grade 12, Wirt County High School
Wood County
Glen Anderson, Grade 12, Parkersburg South High School
Christina Dotson, Grade 12, Parkersburg South High School
Halley Kurtz, Grade 11, Parkersburg High School
Kaycee Smith, Grade 12, Parkersburg High School
Wyoming County
Jennifer Bailey, Grade 12, Westside High School
Brandi Clay, Grade 12, Westside High School
Rhiana Shields, Grade 4, Pineville Elementary School
Cody Vinson, Grade 11, Westside High School
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