Scholastic Submission Preview

The Scholastic Art Awards are right around the corner, with submissions due early next week. BCPS students have participated in this annual competition since 2008. Each year, I wonder how students will manage to top the year prior, especially since last year was our most successful with the third most pieces recognized in our region and three of our students receiving medals at the national level. 

I think our chances of topping the success from last year is as good as it could ever be, though. Students have stepped up to the challenge, creating some of the most innovative, evocative, and skillfully crafted works I have seen over my years of encouraging students to submit. 

The following works are not all of the pieces we are submitting, but a sample of some of the great work that will represent BCPS when we compete in the 2016 Scholastic Art Awards!

This piece is part of a senior portfolio by one of my DE students from last springs photo class. I am excited about the innovative way this image was made and wish Jason much luck as he submits his series as well as other photographs for individual consideration at this year's competition.

This piece of fashion is designed by one of my students who does not have room for art in her schedule this year. Although as a freshman Anna is not in an art class, we communicated through email as she came up with concepts and developed this piece to submit in competition.

This mixed media piece by 8th grader Gracie is using rulers I saved from the trash with the hopes a brave student would turn them into something great. She used the time of her birth in this image as she explores ideas of time and transport.

7th grade after school art student, Maddie took up the challenge I gave to students early in the year when I said I would like to see some explore jewelry making. She created this work by first creating the circles and then winding them together.

This work was probably the most surprising submission as it was not supposed to be a piece of jewelry when 8th grader Cam started making it. It is through the power of "What if" that he took the leap into accidental jewelry designer and I am very interested to see how the judges respond.

This photograph is a result of good exploration and observation by Gwen, an 8th grade student. She and I worked through compositional elements and camera settings this semester and I am excited that she is pushing herself to take images like this one.

8th grade student, Jewel, worked with drawing, printmaking, and collage for this image that explored the banking industry. It will be interesting to see how it does in the mixed media category.

Ethan created multiple digital landscapes in photoshop this year for the competition. It will be exciting to see how this 8th grade student does.

Leah has been working on this sculpture since the beginning of the school year. It will be fun to see how her piece celebrating differences does in the sculpture category.