Originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision are core values of the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Though the creativity is fresh each year, the competition has been going on since 1923!
The efforts of Upper School art students Crystal Gao and Avery Buchanan were recognized at this year’s Scholastic Art Competition. Crystal’s artwork, “Edo,” won a Gold Key and is on display at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Avery’s artwork, “Green Paint,” won an Honorable Mention.
Presented by the national nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers based in New York, the program identifies students with noteworthy artistic and literary talent and presents their work to the larger community. Mississippi’s competition draws roughly 1,200 submissions each year, with visual arts leaders judging entries without knowing the identity of each submitting student.
“The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) serves as the state’s host site, managing submissions, adjudication, awards, and exhibition of Gold Key winners,” said JA graduate and MMA Associate Director of Institutional Partnerships Sarah Wade ‘13. The Scholastic Gold Key Exhibition opens February 14 and runs through May 10. The museum will also host the statewide awards ceremony on April 11.
Submitting work gives students the opportunity for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarship. “Having served as the regional affiliate sponsor for the Scholastic Art Awards for the past seven program years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the magnitude of opportunity these awards provide,” said Merry Barnes, Director of In-Gallery Experiences and Youth Programs. “I’ve seen first hand the vast talent and creativity of the students of Mississippi, and somehow, every program year’s entries top the previous year. This year’s impressive slate of entries challenged the judges to abide by the award percentage guidelines. Out of 1,213 entries, only 388 could win an award.”
