Abbie Dymond, Managing Editor
@abbiedcourant
A painting with intricate and delicate brush strokes; a single photograph taken dozens of times to capture the light perfectly; a drawing with such dramatic depth and precision, rendering it impossible not to be captivated by it; or perhaps a vase, sculpted with utmost care and craftsmanship. Every year, students’ outstanding art pieces are recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, one of the most prestigious regional and national art competitions and the longest-running recognition program.
To be entered into the competition, standout students are selected by their teachers. “Each school is allowed to submit 30 pieces from all the teachers,” art teacher Kimmane Core said. Between the three art teachers, each of us is allowed to submit ten pieces. We select the ones we feel are the best, then submit them through the website.”
After being entered, all entries are first considered for the regional awards: Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, and American Visions Nominee awards. The Gold Key winners are automatically considered for the national awards, including the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and additional scholarship awards.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are very distinguished and can serve as a gateway for nominated students to have their work recognized nationally. “It’s a statewide art competition and is much bigger than just a local competition,” Ms. Core said. “The gold winners of the competition may be entered into the national art competition or exhibition, which is really prestigious because that means they’re among a select few artists from all over the country.”
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are well respected and have been awarded to some of the most highly achieved artists. Due to its well-known name and celebrated award recipients, this award has enhanced the resumes of students applying to college. “As I’m applying to college, it has been really helpful,” Kailey Marti, senior and Gold Key winner, said. “It’s a strong addition to my application to say that I have won some of these awards. Stephen King has won similar things in the past. The name carries a kind of weight.”
Aside from the prestige, the awards allow students to celebrate their work. “Students put a lot of work into their art, and just putting it away after it’s made is sad. We want to celebrate and show the work, and I think this is a great opportunity to do that,” Ms. Core said.
For some students, being awarded inspires them to further their artistic skills. After being recognized with the Silver Key award, freshman Pierce Parkhill hopes to expand his photographic abilities. “I hope to continue photography, whether in or out of school,” he said.I also hope to experiment with different types of photography, such as wildlife and nature.”
The inspiration behind each selected piece often holds deeper significance for the artist. “My awarded piece of art is different from my other pieces since it was carefully constructed to show the contrast of the two places during my travels and how traveling has always been important in my life,” sophomore and Gold Key winner Mia Lockyer said. “My other pieces tend to have smaller meanings.”
For Kailey, one of her nominated pieces, “Bite the Bullet,” was part of her investigation of idioms for her AP Art class, which also have deeper meanings and serve as a creative outlet. “I don’t think about my art too much. It’s kind of like dealing with stuff you don’t want to deal with, but you do,” Kailey said.
According to Ms. Core, the care and ability to express oneself artistically frequently result in a standout and nominated piece. “I’ve been working with my students for a while, so I can tell when a work stands out from the rest, either through their skills, subject matter, or both,” she said. “They can visually express themselves on a piece of paper or canvas and can really connect with the viewer that way. Their unique styles also contribute to what makes them stand out.”
