Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies Students Named Top-50 Finalists in Art Competition

PLAINFIELD, NJ — Plainfield Public Schools announced today that Ashley Morales, Charlize Holmes, and Natalia Benitez, students at the Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies (PAAAS), have achieved a remarkable achievement by being selected as three of the top 50 finalists in the prestigious 2024 Art Competition, Unsung Heroes ARTEFFECT .

“There is an immense amount of talent within the Plainfield Public Schools. Being named a top-50 finalist is a significant accomplishment and a testament to the students and their teachers' hard work and dedication,” said Superintendent of Schools Rashon K. Hasan. “This achievement not only highlights the students' artistic abilities but also brings recognition to the quality of education and support provided by PAAAS. We are extremely proud of our students and confident they will continue excelling in their craft.”

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ARTEFFECT, first awarded in 2016, is a global competition that encourages students to creatively interpret the story of an Unsung Hero from history through visual artwork.

Ashley Morales, a Visual Arts sophomore, crafted a cosmic contemplation of Unsung Hero Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, emphasizing the contrast between grounded research and cosmic exploration.

In describing her artwork, Morales said, “My research into Cecilia's life revealed her as a figure who reshaped our cosmic understanding, an inspiration… The lower half of the foreground reveals the Harvard Observatory, the bastion of her work, rendered with precision.”

Charlize Holmes, also a Visual Arts sophomore, elaborately interprets the life of Lorraine Hansberry, stating, “In the process of creating this piece, I envisioned her hardships and heroic acts be present in the artwork to truly illustrate the events that played a significant part in her upbringing.”

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Natalia Benitez depicted Unsung Hero Margaret Bourke-White in her artwork, highlighting her fearlessness and daring. “Margaret Bourke-White has never given up photography despite the difficulties it brough in her life.”

Contestants were encouraged to interpret the Unsung Hero’s story in various ways, such as through narrative sequences, portraiture, symbols and abstraction, and landscape. Additionally, they were required to submit a written statement to accompany their artwork.

Gregory Sneed, Principal of the Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies, commended the students talent, “This accomplishment is a testament to Ashley, Charlize, and Natalia's exceptional talent, creativity, and dedication to their craft. Let us celebrate and share this wonderful achievement, showcasing the immense talent within PAAAS Visual Arts Studio.”

The ARTEFFECT 2024 Competition attracted entries from students worldwide. Participants were challenged to interpret the story of their chosen Unsung Hero through various artistic mediums and styles.

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