Van Buren Public Library hosts art from students in the region

 

story and photos by Joel Rafkin
[email protected]

The Van Buren Public library hosted the 12th Annual River Valley Student Art Competition display and awards ceremony on Sunday, April 10.

The competition is a collaborative effort between the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum and the Center for Art & Education in Van Buren.

Students, 270 entries total, from grades 7-12 in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma received awards and had their works on display at the library. Sponsorship funding including cash awards were provided by the Fiori Family Charitable Fund and the Walton Family Foundation Inc.

"It’s really important and relevant that we support the arts in school because it’s been proven to benefit children in a number of different ways whether it be being able to express themselves in a different way. It’s been proven to be very therapeutic. It heightens their sensitivity in their environment. It’s always a win-win situation when you promote the arts in school," said Lee Ortega, executive director of the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum.

Jane Owen, executive director of the Center for Art & Education, said it’s been proven through the years that students who do art excel and have a higher college graduation level as well as a more cooperative teamwork approach.

All winners, including honorable mention, were awarded a $50 gift card from the Center for Art & Education in addition to the cash prizes awarded for each category in first through third place plus jurors choice. The gift card can be used for art classes or other programs at the center.

The categories were: drawing; painting; mixed media, 3D, alternative for all grades plus a photography and computer generated art category for grades 10 – 12. First place in grades 7 – 9 received $50, second place was $30 and third place was $20. Jurors choice won $75. In grades 10 – 12 the awards were $75, $50 and $25 with jurors choice fetching $100. The judges were regional artists Katie Harper and Lin Chen.

The winning entries will remain on display through April 22.

Also on display through April 22 are the entries from grades K-6. These are located at the Center for Art & Education in Van Buren. The awards ceremony for the lower grades was held Saturday.

WINNERS
Grades 7 – 9
jurors choice
Andres Pineda
Darby JHS
grade 9

first place category 1 (drawing)
Braden Osman
Coleman JHS
grade 8

first place category 2 (painting)
Chris Payne
Waldron MS
grade 8

first place category 3 (mixed media, 3D, alternative)
Mikayla Callahan
Alma MS
grade 7

Grades 10 – 12
jurors choice
Jesus Espinoza
Northside HS
grade 12

first place category 1
Ruby Meuanghane
Northside HS
grade 10

first place category 2
Jordan Gates
Paris HS
grade 11

first place category 3
Haylee Cantrell
Waldron HS
grade 12

first place category 4 (photography & computer generated)
Kelsey Graham
Van Buren HS
grade 12