Young artists garner honors

Work of Durango High School students earn accolades from judges

Each year, Durango High School holds an Art Faire where awards are given for judged entries. Each year, students show their best work.

The Principal's Choice award for 2001-02 went to Sara Dean for her watercolor "Iris." Honorable mention went to Emilio Gonzales for his work, titled "Hands."

The Regional Superintendent's Choice also went to Dean and cited the same painting. Honorable Mentions when to Jack Moore for his clay entry "Wizard," and Kyle Kettner's poster design, which was used to promote the Art Faire.

The Staff's Choice was Yessenia Cruz's "Big Dog," a close-up illustration of a sleepy dog.

"The hardest part to draw was the nose," said Cruz. "There was so much detail."

Staff's Choice Honorable Mention to "Gladiator" artist Lucas Groneman.

Dean's Choice Awards went to Christine Lilly for "Shells" and Honorable Mention to Jordan Reyes for "Child of the Jungle."

Christina Townsend's entry was a photograph of trees dusted by frost.

"With a camera, you get to see everything a new way," the senior said. "You slow down your thinking and find beauty in everything."

The contest involved art made throughout the school year. As school progressed, teachers held aside possible entries and preserved them. Any student in a Durango art class could enter in these categories: painting, ceramics, photography, mixed media and computer-generated art.

About 400 pieces, one teacher estimated, were displayed on the walls of the school's auditorium. There was no limit to how many each student could enter.

"There were less 3-D entrees this year than usual," said art teacher Linda F. Guiffreda-Baker. "That's because the projects throughout the year evolved into being long-term projects. We almost ran out of time to assign any 3-D experiences."

Some of the art will be displayed in the regional superintendent's office, some at the school district's offices on East Flamingo Road.

Debra Tomme, who teaches computer art, said perhaps 20 percent of her students would go on to careers in graphic arts. She expressed gratitude that the school had up-to-date software like Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress.

"That's what they'll be using (in the real world)," she said. "I'd feel bad if we had Mickey Mouse programs they'd have no use for."

Like the other art teachers -- Angela Brasser, Nancy Bayler Taylor and Guiffreda-Baker -- her classes had no lack of entrees.

Normally the contest is judged by bringing in professional artists. This year, the judging was done by faculty members.

Tomme said even someone who does not plan to pursue a career in art can benefit from taking classes.

"It makes you learn to think in different ways," she said. "With art, there's not just one right answer."


<<--[back]