More than 200 student art pieces on display

DAVIS – Brightly colored paintings made using watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, chalk, pastels and oils along with ceramics, clay, textile arts and auto detailing pieces dotted the Davis Fire Hall Saturday and Sunday during the 2017 STArt Student Art Show. Pieces were judged by artist Michael Doig and prizes were presented to more than 30 winners during a reception held Saturday.

Doig said judging the show is the hardest job in the entire world.

“When I look at a piece of artwork, I see so much potential,” Doig said. “It’s a delicate balance between choosing whose work is the best and whose work is good.”

An exciting new element of the STArt Student Art Show this year is everyone who participated in the show received a little award made by local artist Seth Pitt.

The award ceremony was emceed by Bruce Wilson of the WVHighlands Artisans Group. Wilson said the group was really pleased with the turnout for the show and awards ceremony and with the amount of student interest.

“I like to that every year the show continues there is more appreciation for what art adds to public education,” Wilson said. “I love what Seth Pitt’s tribute from local artists to all the participants said.”

That saying was, “With the dreams inside your head, you made the world a grander and more interesting place. Thank you for taking the time to create something meaningful and showing it to the rest of the world.”

The Best of Show winner went to Wenkai Campbell, fifth-grade student at TVEMS for his painting of ‘Snow Hunting.’ The Best of Show award was sponsored by Grant County Bank.

The town awards include the Town of Davis, won by Emma Jo Hockman, an eighth-grade student at TVEMS for a weaving ‘Under the Sea.’ The City of Parsons award went to Kenya Jones, junior at TCHS for her acrylic painting ‘Parsons,’ and the City of Thomas award winner was Camren Cummings, senior at TCHS for ‘Early Morning,’ an acrylic painting. Tyler Collar, a sixth-grade student at TVEMS won the Davis Volunteer Fire Department award for ‘Fishing,’ a ceramic piece.

Folks attending the STArt 2017 Student Art Show had the opportunity to cast their ballot for their favorite pieces displayed in the show. The people’s choice awards were won by Alaira Hudson, first place, for her acrylic painting ‘Sun Baby,’ and third place for her watercolor painting ‘Blumenlied.’ Alaira is in eighth grade at DTEMS. The second-place people’s choice award went to Wenkai Campbell for his painting, ‘Snow Hunting.’ Wenkai is a fifth-grade student at TVEMS. The people’s choice awards were sponsored by Tucker Community Foundation.

Winners in the grade kindergarten through second grade include first place, Madison Carr, kindergarten student at TVEMS for her collage ‘Houses,’ sponsored by WVHighlands Artisans Group; second place, Ani Snider, kindergarten student at TVEMS for her pastel drawing ‘Across the Sea,’ sponsored by State Farm Insurance; third place Nettie Nelson, kindergarten student at DTEMS for her crayon creation ‘Mrs. Lion,’ sponsored by Roberts Estates; honorable mention, Juniper Judy, kindergarten student at DTEMS for her watercolor and acrylic creation ‘Colorful Hands,’ sponsored by Squirrels’ Nest Studio; honorable mention to Peyton Hicks, second-grader at TVEMS for the chalk creation ‘Polar Express,’ sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank; and Aradia Dillsworth, first-grader at DTEMS for ‘Whiskers,’ a crayon and marker creation, sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank.

Award winners in grades three through five include first place, Cameron Showalter, fourth-grade student at TVEMS for a drawing ‘Little Bill,’ sponsored by Preston & Cooper PLLC; second place, fourth-grade student at TVEMS Malia Cussins for collage ‘Figure 8,’ sponsored by Tip Top; third place, Marissa Judy, fifth-grader at TVEMS for her ceramics creation ‘Pizza Box,’ sponsored by Three Castles Antiques; honorable mention, Hailey Supak, third grader from DTEMS, for her crayon creation ‘The Humongous Monster, sponsored by Hellbender Burritos; honorable mention, Sadie Ends, TVEMS third grader, for her paper sculpture ‘Sunshine House,’ sponsored by Cottrill’s Opera House (AHP); and Bailey Cale, TVEMS fourth grader for her collage ‘Adventures of Boy-Girl Cat Lover,’ sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank.

Grade six through eight winners include first place, Alairia Hudson, eighth grader at DTEMS for her acrylic creation ‘Sun Baby,’ sponsored by MountainTop Realty; second place Emma Snyder, sixth grade at TVEMS for her sculpture ‘M’Llama,’ sponsored by Mutley’s Steakhouse/Big Belly Deli; third place, Sadie Palmer, eighth-grader at DTEMS for her colored pencil creation ‘The Kiss,’ sponsored by Wing Night Wing Nuts; honorable mention to Amara Snider and Addie Buckley, seventh and eighth graders at TVEMS for their ceramics creation ‘Cactus Dinner,’ sponsored by Pam Snyder Pottery; honorable mention to Ariona Plumley, sixth grade at TVEMS for ceramics piece ‘Farm Girl, sponsored by Phillips Electronics; and honorable mention to Mackenzie Lyons, seventh grade to DTEMS for screen printing ‘The Lion’s Pride,’ sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank.

Zach Frymyer, TCHS sophomore, was selected as the winner in the auto detail airbrush panel. His piece was named ‘Patriotic Flag,’ and the category was sponsored by Landis Realty.

High School winners include first place, junior Samantha Kines for her pencil drawing ‘From the Ant’s Perspective,’ sponsored by Best of Canaan; second place, senior Karsyn White for her watercolor ‘I Never Bloomed,’ sponsored by Stumptown Ales; third place, junior Destiny Meador for her pencil drawing ‘Gabriel Lunas,’ sponsored by the Ski Barn; honorable mention, senior Michelle Harsh for her acrylic ‘Summer Nights,’ sponsored by Magistrate Riley Barb; honorable mention, junior Aliah Hanlin for her standup acrylic ‘Macho Grande,’ sponsored by Thomasyard; and honorable mention, sophomore Mark Barnes for his clay tile ‘WV History,’ sponsored by Timberline Landscape.

Those who did not get to view the art during the exhibit Sunday in Davis and those who loved the pieces and would like to get a second glance may do so by visiting the following locations. Pieces from the show will be on display at the following locations through the middle of May:

In Parsons at C.J.’s Pizzeria, Cooper & Preston PLLC, Little Andi’s Restaurant, Mountain Valley Bank, Performance Motors, State Farm Insurance, Parsons City Hall and the Tucker County Courthouse.

In Canaan Valley at the Best of Canaan Realty, The Breakfast Nook, Canaan Realty, Canaan Valley Resort, Deerfield Restaurant & Pub, Grant County Bank, Landis Realty, Mountain Top Realty and the Ski Barn.

In Davis at Big Belly Deli, Davis Dental Service, East-West Printing, Grant County Bank, Hellbender Burritos, Mutley’s Steakhouse, Sirianni’s Pizzeria, The Studio Gallery, Stumptown Ales, Tucker Community Foundation, WVHighlands Artisans Gallery, Wicked Wilderness Pub ‘n’ Parlor and Wild Ginger & Spice.

In Thomas at Flanco Auto Repair, Buxton & Landstreet Gallery, Cottrill’s Opera House, H & H Hardware, Kidwell’s, Miners and Merchants Bank, Phillips Electronics, Thomas City Hall, Three Castles Antiques, Thomasyard, Tip Top and The White Room Gallery.