The Michigan Art Education Association K-12 State Exhibition Show for 2022 is happening now, and New Buffalo Area Schools will have four students representing the school district. High School Art teacher Ashley Jager posted a proud announcement of the students’ awards on the NBAS Art’s Department Facebook page, and the excitement she has for her students is evident.
“Art shows are important opportunities for our students,” Ashley says. “It gives visual artists recognition for the amazing work they do; much like athletes receiving public support for winning regionals or making it to state championships, and students in performing arts gaining praise from concerts and musical performances. This recognition is a very high honor!”
With competing works from the eighteen regions in the state of Michigan, this exhibit is a compliment and celebration to these artists and what they have created. The four New Buffalo students who received awards are first grader: Jenna Dali, fifth grader: Andrea De La Rosa-Huizar, seventh grader: Cora Moser, and Junior: Amanda Jones.
Hatching Dragon, ceramics — Artist Cora Moser
Cara Moser, 7th grader and artist of Hatching Dragon says about her ceramic piece, “I thought of the idea of a dragon who had hatched out of a pumpkin and then built a nest inside of it. While the pumpkin itself is pretty simple and plain, it has become a home. I built the dragon to be proportionate with its pumpkin so that it can sit comfortably inside or next to it. I like my dragon and I think the pumpkin turned out really well. I have always loved dragons and enjoy drawing them as much as I can so I like that I was able to transform my drawings into a dragon sculpture.” Her submission includes a sculpture and a charcoal drawing, and was chosen for the Top 100 Works, Middle School Division.
Junior Amanda Jones was chosen for the Top 30 Traveling Show, with her Self Portrait! Her piece will tour the state for the next year, and be shown in multiple venues from May 2022 to May 2023. Amanda says, “I drew fragments of myself from observation and distorted the space with an abstract composition. My self-portrait represents different versions of myself transitioning into each other within the inner thoughts of my subconscious. While creating this artwork, I also thought about how people who may have conflicting parts of the brain that self-sabotage them like stabbing yourself in the back.”
Artist Amanda Jones, junior – Self Portrait
The two elementary school artists chosen for the Top 100 Artworks are students of Molly Sell, the art teacher at New Buffalo Elementary School. Jenna Dali, first grader, was awarded for her Process Leaf Painting, and Andrea De La Rosa Huizar, fifth grader, for her piece titled Festive Fall Print.
Process Leaf Painting, Jenna Dali Festive Fall Print, Andrea De La Rosa-Huizar
All photos provided by Ashley Jager
March is Youth Art Month, and the Top 100 Elementary and Middle School artworks will be on display at the Taubman Health Center in Ann Arbor from March 14th to May 15th.
Open to members of MAEA and starting with a regional contest, the K-12 Exhibition receives over 500 submitted works throughout the year. Through these, 100 art pieces are chosen for the state show, with a separate traveling show that will feature the Top 30 chosen by the governor. The pieces submitted to for the Top 30 travel around the state for the year, and end on display at the state capitol in Lansing. For more information on the Michigan Art Education Association and to view the exhibits online, please visit miarted.org.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
