DAVIS – This weekend, the Davis Fire Hall was transformed into a gallery showcasing art pieces created by the very talented youth in Tucker County. The STArt 2015 Student Art Show winners were announced Sunday, and a check for $2,000 was given to help support art programs in Tucker County Schools. Tucker County Senior Aiyana Kachmarek received the Best of Show award for her chalk entry of “Winged Victory.” The Best of Show Award was sponsored by the Grant County Bank.
“The STArt Student Art Show is an outreach program of the WV Highlands Galley across the street,” Bruce Wilson said. “It sets the goal of promoting and showcasing the arts and tries to make art education an important part of town life.”
Bruce Wilson said the STArt Show happens near the end of the school year. “The businesses that sponsor prizes get their prize piece and some more to display in their business. It was planned so when folks come to town for ArtSpring, they will get to see the student art. This year, the prize winners will be displayed in the former Q’s Corner Laundromat in Davis during ArtSpring.”
Wilson said STArt stands for school town arts. Gerri Wilson said the entries came from all three Tucker County schools, as well as from home-schooled students.
The arts are a vital and essential core of human existence and in order to encourage and support students who participate in the arts, the WV Highlands Artisans Group sponsors the annual STArt Student Art Show to recognize and award student art. A display is presented of works completed by Tucker County students and prizes, consisting of both cash awards and honorable mentions, are awarded in the categories of kindergarten – 2nd grade, 3rd – 5th grade, 6th – 8th grade and 9th – 12th grade.
Additionally, the towns of Thomas, Davis and Parsons present awards to the students. The Davis Volunteer Fire Department recognizes student work with an award. A Best of Show is selected, and this year, the Tucker Community Foundation has introduced three People’s Choice Awards.
“Each year, sponsorship is given to the schools to assist with the arts programs. They get next to nothing, about $100 a year, to run their program. It has done a lot of good for the arts programs,” Gerri Wilson said.
Bruce Wilson said Tucker County is fortunate to have three very fine art instructors – one in each school. “But they get hardly anything to purchase materials with. We take in money to sponsor the prizes and the rest goes back into the schools to help with supplies for the programs.”
Elkins resident Kevin Woodcock, who judged the 2015 STArt Student Art Show entries, said he was impressed with the variety of techniques utilized by the students.
“It made it hard because I wish there was a category for each technique,” Woodcock said. “It is incredible what the art teachers are doing with the students. I am impressed. Students are rising to the occasion and there is a lot of work to be completed to pick out the winners.”
During the judging, Woodcock said one piece really surprised him.
“The quality of work in a chicken coop made from Popsicle sticks is amazing,” Woodcock said. “This was made by a third-grade student. I would have been impressed if that was made by a 12th grader. This could be our next Frank Lloyd Wright.”
Award winners include:
K-2nd grade:
First place, sponsored by Big Belly Deli, Araya Goldman, first grade at TVEMS for her painting “Christy;” second place, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, Mason Powel, second grade home schooled, for the acrylic on canvas “Modigliani Self-Portrait;” third place, sponsored by Roberts Estates, Chloe Cummings, second grade to TVEMS, for a painting, “Midnight.” Honorable mentions went to Nina Shoemaker, 2nd grade at DTEMS for a watercolor “Lovely,” sponsored by Wing Night Wing Nuts; Adelaide McCann, 2nd grade home schooled for clay “African Ivory,” sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank; and Malia Cussins, 2nd grade, TVEMS for a painting “Summer,” sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank.
3rd-5th grade:
First place, sponsored by Cooper & Preston, PLLC, Wenkai Campbell, third grade at TVEMS for his chicken coop made from popsickle sticks; second place, sponsored by Tip Top, Wenkai Campbell for his painting “My Garden;” and third place, sponsored by 3 Castles Antiques, Rachel Felton, 3rd grade at DTEMS for a paper collage “Bella.” Honorable mention was taken by Amara Snider, 5th grade, TVEMS, for a print “Sunbathing,” sponsored by Hellbender Burritos; Isabelle Judy, 5th grade, home schooled, for a watercolor and pastel of “Rainbow Fruit,” sponsored by Cottrill’s Opera House; and Nick Nelson, 4th grade at TVEMS for a painting “Titanic,” sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank.
6th – 8th grade:
First place, sponsored by MountainTop Realty, Inza Pacella, eighth grade at DTEMS, for a packaging tape creation “Anguish;” second place, sponsored by Mutley’s Downtown, Kaleb Snider, eighth grade at TVEMS for a ceramic “Chinese Treat;” and third place, sponsored by Wild Ginger & Spice, Ethan Cussins, seventh grade, DTEMS, for a paper creation “White Wolf.” Honorable mentions went to Inza Pacella, sponsored by Canaan Realty for a masking tape creation of “Taylor;” Tristan Anderson, seventh grade at DTEMS, sponsored by Phillips Electronics for wire and stocking creation of “’Merican Style;” and Maria Hess, sixth grade at TVEMS, sponsored by Mountain Valley Bank, for a drawing “Curse of Darkness.”
9th- 12th grade:
First place, sponsored by Best of Canaan Realty, Samantha Kines, ninth grade, TCHS, pencil drawing “The Simple Rose; second place, sponsored by Performance Motors, Emily Beasley, 11th grade, TCHS, for acrylic “Not of This World;” third place, sponsored by the Ski Barn, Karsyn White, 10th grade, TCHS, pencil of “Okay, Okay.” Honorable mentions went to Jacob Wood, 11th grade, TCHS for “A Midnight Melody,” done in pencil and sponsored by Riley Barb and Mary Cat Pennington, 11th grade, TCHS for Effigy Pot, “Brown Panda,” sponsored by Mountain Mist Florist; and Emily Beasley, 11th grade, TCHS, for pencil chalk of “I’d Give You My Heart,” sponsored by Timberline Landscape. An Auto Detailing award, sponsored by Landis Realty was given to Devon Anderson, 11th grade at TCHS for “Krooked.”
The Town Awards were won by Devan Lambruno, 9th grade, TCHS, for Tempera, “Farming With Color,” from the Town of Davis; Shilah Jones, kindergarten, TVEMS, for a paper collage “Rainbow Line,” from the Town of Parsons; and Kyleigh Barrett, sixth grade, TVEMS, for a painting, “Ocean,” from the Town of Thomas.
The Davis Volunteer Fire Department winner was Emma Snyder, fourth grade at TVEMS for a drawing, “Pumpkin.”
Winners of the People’s Choice Awards, sponsored by the Tucker Community Foundation, were, first place, Ethan Cussins, seventh grade, DTEMS, for paper cutting of “White Wolf;” second place, Aiyana Kachmarek, 12th grade TCHS, for chalk of “Winged Victory;” and third place, Tristan Anderson, seventh grade, TCHS, for wire and stocking “’Merican Style.”
