PEA RIDGE — Pea Ridge students won 40 percent of all the elementary art awards at the Arts Center of the Ozarks annual “Celebrate Art!” exhibition/competition in Springdale this week.
The bi-county affair (Benton and Washington counties) had a record number of entrants, with ACO judge chairman of the event, Thomas Merritt, remarking, “The quality of work was beyond expectation.
“The level of each individual grades’ work appeared to me to be at least a grade or two above their age group. It was very challenging to judge from among the excellent workentered.”
Twelve Pea Ridge artists in the elementary-aged divisions took home awards, led by the first-place work of fourth-grader Jon Howard, who won with a tempera painting of “Winter’s Coming.” Thirdgrader Jake Ingram took second place, with his oil pastel and tempera drawing of “Tribal Dance,” with fifth-grader Jessica McMahon capturing third place with her tempera painting “Lady in Orange.”
Taking fourth places were kindergartner Luke Baker’s oilpastel drawing of “Venice” and third-grader Dillon Brouse’s tempera painting “Meeting at Midnight.” Finishing in fifth place were kindergartner Hutch Kelso with his crayon drawing of Louis Armstrong, secondgrader Landon Weston’s painting of “Hummingbird,” and fourth-grader Stephanie Harris’ oil pasteldrawing of “Uninvited Guest.”
Sixth place award winners included kindergartner Jasmine Greek’s crayon drawing of “Till the Cows Come Home,” third-grader Gracie Easterling’s painting of “Flowers” and Peyton Anderson’s painting of an Indian chief on horseback.
Another student of Pea Ridge teacher John McGee was second-grader Ava Little, who took second place with a painting entitled “Flowers.” Little is currently home schooled.
Merritt went on to say: “The use of color, media, perspective and the higher levels of complexity and diversity were very strong throughout all the grades competing. I really appreciated my time spent at the ACO to review this work.
The participants, instructors and families should be quite proud of the work that was produced.”
Pea Ridge’s youthful artists will next be participating in the statewideart festival “Collaboration of the Arts” held annually in Little Rock. At the end of May, the nationally recognized museum of art, the Gilcrease, will host a month long exhibit of the best of the Pea Ridge elementary artists. It will be the schools’ third time to be chosen for the honor.
School, Pages 12 on 04/11/2012