Featuring more than 40 juried awards and nearly $135,000 in potential scholarships and prizes, the eighth annual Clackamas Education Service Regional Art Show honored young visual artists from across Clackamas County.
During the awards reception on Thursday, April 25 at the Clackamas ESD headquarters, nearly 200 students were recognized for their artistic accomplishments.
“It’s such an honor to be able to showcase and honor the wonderful artistic talent that is being nurtured in our Clackamas County schools,” said Larry Didway, Clackamas ESD superintendent, in a press release.
Family, friends, teachers and community members viewed paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed-media and photography before awards were given to middle and high schoolers.
Atticus Perry, a senior at Lake Oswego High School, won “Best in Show” for his sculpture “Bone Dry,” as well as first place for the twelfth grade awards.
West Linn High School junior Brooke Thomsen won the Clackamas ESD “Staff Choice Award” for his digital drawing “Delicate Duo,” which will be purchased by CESD and put on permanent display at their offices.
The Clackamas ESD Regional Art Show is sponsored by Clackamas Community College, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Venvino Art Studios and the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.
Winners received scholarships for classes at PNCA, credits at Clackamas Community College, gift cards for art supplies at Venvino Art Studios and Blick Art Supplies, and the opportunity to showcase their work at the Youth Exhibit at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts in June.
LOHS Senior Lara Stiehler earned the Jada Rupley Superintendent’s Choice Award for her photograph “When the World Stops – Silence.” The Superintendent’s Choice Award was named after former CESD Superintendent Jada Rupley, who started the Regional Art Show in 2017.
“She is a champion of art and it was her vision and drive that led to the creation of the show to recognize the talent of our regional student artists. Our ‘Superintendent’s Choice Award’ is named in her honor, and we are pleased to have her here tonight to award it,” Didway said during the award show. “This photograph captures a striking moment filled with motion and life.”
Both Lake Oswego High School and Wilsonville High School had seven students earn grade level awards.
Hanna Faroghi of Lake Oswego earned first place for eleventh grade for her painting “Natural History Museum.” True Williams of Wilsonville earned first place in tenth grade honors for her painting “Trying to Remember.” Ninth grade first place honors went to West Linn High School student Travin Lindsay for her painting “Sunday Morning.”
Students at Inza R. Wood Middle School in Wilsonville swept the first place awards for all middle school grade levels.
Eighth graders Adina Lozovan and Julia Weigel tied for first place at their grade level. Seventh grader Sawyer Brooks won first place for the painting “Together We Rise” and sixth grader Avery Cottom earned first place for the painting “Where the Desert Meets the Sea.”
The seven judges each selected a piece that they believed conveyed the strongest message for the “Art Speaks” awards. Four of the seven “Art Speaks” awards were given to Wilsonville High School students.
The “Art Speaks” winners were Mia Garcia of Wilsonville, Ava Katz of Wilsonville, Josephine Peykanu of Wilsonville, Nikash Bajpai of Wilsonville, Kylee Turner of Oregon City High School and Jack Johnston of West Linn High School.
“Witnessing art’s uplifting and unifying ability ignites a new dream in my retirement: A world where all children, regardless of ability, can experience the transformative power of art,” said retired art instructor Sara Berkley during her special remarks. “Together we can paint a masterpiece of diversity, equity and inclusion. Let's make this dream a reality.”
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