 | | | You'll be able to say you knew them when.... The best of Lamorinda's emerging visual artists were all smiles after being honored by the Orinda Arts Council at this year's Visual Arts Competition awards ceremony. Bottom, from left: Hailey Westphal, Mary Youm, Allison Easter; back: Madison Wheeler, Kelly Noah, Erin Hansen (obscured), Kathryn Fearing, Lizzie Mediati, Emily Fuhriman, Luke Johnston, Erica Howland. Photos Ohlen Alexander
| | | | | | Continuing its more than 60-year tradition of recognizing creativity and excellence, the Orinda Arts Council (OAC) announced the winners of its annual Visual Arts Competition at a reception March 7. Cash prizes totaling $2,325 were awarded for first through third places and honorable mentions for the 2012 contest, which was sponsored by Mechanics Bank, the Educational Foundation of Orinda, Lafayette Partners in Education, and the Moraga Education Foundation.
Lamorinda high school students submitted work in three categories: 2D (collage, drawing, mixed media, painting, printmaking), 3D (ceramics, construction, jewelry, sculpture), or photography (manual and all digital arts). The 118 entries received were judged by experts in the respective media for content, creativity and originality, and degree of expertise demonstrated.
"The premise of art to me," mused returning judge Scott McCue, "is communication." Owner of McCue Photography in Orinda, McCue is an artist in his own right, as well as an art dealer and appraiser.
"Once in awhile, you hit something that has that spark," he said, highlighting the works most impacting viewers this year. "That staying power is the sign of connection."
And nowhere was that connection more effectively made than with Campolindo senior Mary Youm's Best of Show award-winning work. Named by exhibit attendees as the viewers' choice, Youm's multimedia rendering of a beta fish employed a subtle layer of acrylics over pen and ink on cardboard in ways that had viewers leaning in for a closer look.
"I like pen and ink because it allows me to stay true to what I'm drawing," said Youm, who said she used the acrylics "to add dramatic marks and character" to the portrait.
Youm's work and that of her fellow winners (see list accompanying this article) will remain on display at the Orinda Library Art Gallery through March 28. For exhibit hours and further details, visit OAC's website: OrindaArtsCouncil.org.
2012 Visual Arts Competition
Winners and Honorable Mentions
2D Category:
1st: Kathleen Devlin, 12th Grade, Contra Costa Christian
Watercolor: Fibonacci's Flower
Teacher: Danute Nitecki
2nd: Hailey Westphal, 12th Grade, Acalanes
Watercolor/Melted Wax: Unity
Teacher: Robert Porter
3rd (Tie): Erica Howland, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Acrylic: Asphalt Flowers
Teacher: Jill Langston
Natalie Korich, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Color Pencil: Untitled
Teacher: Jill Langston
Honorable Mentions:
Allison Easter, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Pen and Ink, Watercolor: Birch Girl
Teacher: Jill Langston
Emma Goodacre: 12th Grade, Campolindo
Crayon Resist: Cat
Teacher: Jill Langston
Erin Hansen, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Graphite: Untitled
Teacher: Jill Langston
Steven Wetterholm, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Acrylic: Pacific Grove
Teacher: Jill Langston
Kelly Noah, 12th Grade, Miramonte
Oil: The Universal Mind
Teacher: Deborah Hovey-LaCour
3D Category:
1st: Katherine Fearing, 12th Grade, Miramonte
Sculpture: Untitled
2nd: Luke Johnston, 12th Grade, Acalanes
Wood: Cutting Board I
Teacher: Bear Begelman
3rd (Tie): Aly Kostecki, 12th Grade, Miramonte
Silver: Hold on Bunny
Teacher: Gavin Kermode
Annelise Olson, 11th Grade, Miramonte
Topi
Teacher: Gavin Kermode
Honorable Mentions:
Rachael Purcell, 10th Grade, Miramonte
Brass and White Bronze: Milk's Favorite Cookie
Teacher: Gavin Kermode
Madison Wheeler, 9th Grade, Acalanes
Wood: Dream Catcher
Teacher: Bear Begelman
Photography Category:
1st: Emily Fuhriman, 10th Grade, Miramonte
Digital Photograph: Splash
Teacher: Susan McCauley
2nd: Jazmin Morote, 11th Grade, Acalanes
Digital Photography: Kelly Rice Bowl
Teacher: Robert Porter
3rd: Carolyn Cole, 11th Grade, Acalanes
Digital: Disposition
Teacher: Robert Porter
Honorable Mentions:
Lizzie Mediati, 12th Grade, Campolindo
Photography: Callow
Teacher: Collette Sweeney
Kelatztli Mendoza, 12th Grade, Bentley
Silver Gelatin Print: Back Home
Teacher: Aram Muksian
Hudson Davis, 10th Grade, Bentley
Digital: Snowboarding
Teacher: Aram Muksian
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA