Seven Bethel Students Win State-Wide Art Awards

Reported by Paula Antolini


CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BETHEL STUDENTS!

Two Bethel Middle School students and five Bethel High School students have been chosen to receive awards in a prestigious Connecticut state art exhibition, "The 25th annual Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards," which is the largest juried student art exhibition in the state and a high level exhibition.

As an affiliate of the National Scholastic Art Awards and The Alliance For Young Artists and Writers, the Connecticut region is proud to continue an annual tradition established in 1927. This national program was originated to honor the creative efforts of grade 7 to 12 students in public, private and parochial schools. It is now the largest and most senior program of its type in the country.

Award winners from Bethel CT are:

BETHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL:

SILVER KEY AWARD
Gia Antolini, "Gray Pipes," Category: Drawing, Teacher: Joanna Tinios

HONORABLE MENTION AWARD:
Amanda Carter, "Bridge," Category: Drawing, Teacher: Joanna Tinios

BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL:

GOLD KEY AWARD
Ellen Dennerlein, "Autumn Sphere," Category: Ceramics & Glass, Teacher: Lynn Ferrier

HONORABLE MENTION AWARD
Kendra Curry, "Her Majesty Of Anarchy," Category: Photography, Teacher: Rebecca Lacey
Sarah Esposito, "Crimson Daisies," Category: Printmaking, Teacher: Anne Bogart
Bridie Moriarty, "Fractured Mirror," Category: Drawing, Teacher: LynnFerrier
Sarah Sadiq, "Uniting Lisa," Category: Mixed Media, Teacher: Marjorie Overmier


The Connecticut Student Awards Presentation took place on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, at 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Theater, University of Hartford.

The exhibition is being held at the Silpe Gallery, in Taub Hall, at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford.  The exhibition dates are January 12 to January 31, 2014. Silpe Gallery hours are: daily 9 to 4 p.m. - weekends, noon to 4 p.m.. Art School: 860-768-4827.

The theme of this year's exhibition is "Celebrating the Creative Spirit of Connecticut Youth,"  sponsored by the Connecticut Art Education Association, Inc. and The Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.

The sponsors emphasize that the purpose of this program is not merely a competition of sorts, but a recognition and encouragement of talented visual art students from across the state. Many artists, university faculty and professionals in the field have participated to review and select the finest student art works in many art media categories from over 1,500 Connecticut student entries.

The 2014 Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards exhibition features select work from 130 participating Connecticut schools in grades 7 - 12. Selected from over 1,500 total art entries, 623 works were accepted for exhibit at the University of Hartford. From that accepted number, there were 182 Gold key awards (including 40 Gold portfolios), 152 Silver keys and 289 Honorable Mention awards granted.

Also among the prizes being offered to these highly talented Connecticut high school artists are scholarship offers to the University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School. The scholarships range from $8,000 to $20,000 annually and renew for four years. In total, the University of Hartford makes a commitment of more than $1.5 million over a four-year period to the winners.

Following the close of the Connecticut Regional exhibit, the select Gold Key award winners from each national region will have their art works reviewed by a blue ribbon panel of judges at the National level in March. The National Jury will select "Gold Medal" National winners and call in their artwork to be exhibited in New York City during June. The National student awards ceremony will be held at Carnegie Hall in mid-June. Selected students will receive an invitation to this National event.

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For more information on the Hartford Art School and Silpe Gallery, please visit www.hartfordartschool.org or call 860.768.4393.

For a full list of CT winners see:
http://www.caeascholasticartawards.net/WinnersBySchool2014.pdf

Directions to University of Hartford: Exit 44 from I-84 [ Prospect Ave.] From west: right exit and left onto Prospect Ave. From east: right exit, right turn off ramp, left onto Prospect. Follow Prospect to its end (2 miles) Turn right, on Albany Ave. Then turn left at light onto Bloomfied Ave. Proceed 3/4 mile campus is on right. First entrance for Lincoln Theater. Take second entrance for Hartford Art School and Silpe Gallery, follow signs.