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Students express themselves through art
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Neighbors | Emily Gianetti.Katie Fernstrom's picture won first runner-up at Canfield High School's art show May 25 and 26.
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Neighbors | Emily Gianetti.Robin Rockney's self portrait won Best of Show at the Canfield High School art show May 25 and 26. .
By EMILY GIANETTI
More than 1,200 pieces of art from 19 different classes were showcased May 25-26 as part of Canfield High School’s annual student art show in the gymnasium.
Renowned artist Al Bright and Butler Institute of American Art curator Wayne Gruver were charged with the daunting task of judging the 2011 show. They determined awards by looking at all pieces together and assigning ribbons: blue for first, red for second, green for third and yellow for honorable mention.
From the hundreds of blue ribbon winners, the judges selected 70 pictures to receive medals, and from those 70, the top 10 were chosen. Of those, one piece was awarded the title of Best of Show.
Senior Robin Rockney’s self-portrait earned that coveted distinction, while the runners-up were Katie Fernstrom, Jullian Fusillo, Lauren Teminsky, Sara Billec, Marissa DeSanto, Mykell Rushton, Sara Hartman, Nathalie McClune and Taylor Chambers.
“I really wanted to do something with a robin and my hair,” said Rockney of her portrait, which she even named “Robin and the Bird.”
She added how surprised she was to win all the honors, because she had something different in mind when she began drawing.
Many students from this top 10 also won other awards outside Canfield’s show.
Fernstrom won best of show at the Mahoning County Art Show for another of her pieces. Rockney’s made it into the The Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition and Jullian Fusillo’s also won a blue ribbon at the county show.
Award-winning artwork of this caliber often takes weeks and even months to create. But to many students in the show, it means a lot more than just a grade for a class.
“I’ve always had a passion for art,” said senior and medal winner Stephanie Brandenstein on what fuels her creativity, “Art, music — all of it combined — it’s the freedom of expression.”
At the show, freedom of expression certainly was a major focus. Pictures ranged from self-portraits to abstract designs bursting with color.
“Really, the art show is a celebration of the students and what they do,” said Fine Art instructor Kevin Hoopes. “It doesn’t matter how good the art teacher is if students aren’t willing to do the work.”