Ah Haa Announces 2016 Youth Art Award Winners

07 May Ah Haa Announces 2016 Youth Art Award Winners

Telluride’s Ah Haa School’s Daniel Tucker Gallery played host to an impressive Youth Art Awards reception on April 28.  The show featured paintings, drawings, printmaking, ceramics, even woodwork.

There were 120 submissions from public school students from Telluride, Norwood and Naturita, as well as Telluride Mountain School students. Awards were announced during the reception, when certificates and cash were given out to 13 students whose work showed strength, originality, and exceptional artistic merit. Work was categorized into three groups: grades 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.

“This year’s work was strong, as always, and especially hard to judge,” said Ah Haa Curriculum Director Jessica Newens, who served as a juror alongside Ah Haa Exhibition Manager Julie McNair, Ah Haa Adult Curriculum Manager Kris Kwasniewski, and local artist Drew Ludwig.  “We could have given out dozens more honorable mentions with so many standout pieces.”

Spoon, Best in Show, Youth Art Awards, courtesy, Ah Haa

“Best in Show” went to Telluride Mountain School 12th grader Sylvan Bald for his hand carved mahogany spoon. According to Bald, his piece “was designed to have a more artistic rather than functional purpose while still maintaining the ability to be used as a spoon.”

Bald was awarded $100 cash and a $200 gift certificate towards an Ah Haa class.

First place Youth Art Award winners were Telluride High School 12^th grader Abby Segerstrom (oil reduction portrait); Telluride Mountain School 9^th grader Hamo Thorneycroft (lino block print portrait); and Telluride Mountain School student Cassidy Craige (linoleum block print and mixed media). All three received $50 cash and a $100 gift certificate toward and Ah Haa class.

Abby 1st place 11th and 12th grade, courtesy, Ah Haa.

New this year, Ah Haa created a second and third place category, awarding Ah Haa gift certificates to the winners. Second place winners included 11^th grader Alexander Nies of Norwood High School (charcoal and pencil portrait); 9^th grader Justus Tudor of Telluride High School (pencil); and 8^th grader Neida Guerrero of Telluride Middle School (painting).

Third place winners were Telluride High School 12^th grader Sabrina Dubach (acrylic); Telluride Mountain School 10^th grader Marco Canclini (intaglio dry point etch); and Telluride Mountain School 8^th grader Katy James (mixed media linoleum block print).

Darwin,
Print by Hamo Thorneycroft, 9th grade, Telluride Mountain School.

Several Honorable Mentions were awarded in each grade category, as well. Telluride High School student Tyler Jansen was the 11^th-12^th grade honoree (mixed media); Telluride High School student Rubie DeLuca was the 9^th-10^th grade honoree (watercolor, pen and ink); and Telluride Mountain School’s Henry Martin was the 7^th-8^th grade honoree (intaglio dry-point etch).

The 2016 Youth Art Awards also featured a special group of students from Naturita Middle School, represented by ten 5^th-6^th graders who created double exposure self portraits using digital photography. Fifth grader Joshua Knuckles received an honorable mention for his photograph in this special category.

“Every year we work with regional art teachers to get as much youth participation as possible,” said Newens. “We hope this show inspires each participant to continue their artistic endeavors and discover their own creative voice.”

For more photos and more information about this year’s Youth Art Award winners, please, visit ahhaa.org.