MONTGOMERY, Ala. - More than 400 student artists statewide entered the 2010 State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit, an annual event, shown February 8-20, to showcase the artistic talents of Alabama’s public school students in Grades K-12.
“The State Board recognition is a wonderful way to honor all the recipients of the Visual Art awards,” said State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton.
The annual exhibit is on display through noon on Feb. 20 in the Old Supreme Court Library, State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue. Today, Alabama State Board of Education honored the student winners and their teachers at the monthly K-12 meeting.
Immediately after the State Board meeting, the official Exhibit Opening took place in the Old Supreme Court Library, followed by an awards luncheon at the RSA Plaza Terrace, 770 Washington Avenue.
Student Noah Petersen of Shelby County was at the State Board recognition and described his work of art, a color photograph of a fellow classmate. His Calera High School art teacher, Katherine Stuart, submitted the photo into Shelby County’s judging round and Noah’s photograph was selected for the State Award. Another winner, Sarah Grace Moody from Scottsboro City school system was “honored and excited” to be part of the winners. Her teacher, Angel Chaney, submitted the hand-colored black and white photograph Moody took of a friend near a dilapidated structure in a rural area.
At the luncheon, the student artists will receive awards for Best of Show, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and honorable mentions, in three age groups (Grades 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12) and two categories (Two-Dimensional Work and Photography or Computer-Generated Work). All K-6 students receive Certificates of Participation. The state-level judging panel of Alabama art educators and professional artists based its selections on composition, originality, and developmental appropriateness.
Sponsors of the State Superintendent’s Visual Arts Exhibit include the Alabama Department of Education, Alabama Alliance for Arts in Education, Alabama Arts License Tag Grant, and Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts.
For more information, contact Martha Lockett, Arts Education Specialist, Curriculum and Instruction, Alabama Department of Education, at 334-242-8082.