High School Students Are Recognized At Annual High School Art Show At Center Place

With Arts & Entertainment Editor Kathy L. Collins

The 2017 High School Art Show was held on Thursday, March 23 at Center Place in Brandon. The GFWC Brandon Service League provides the funding for the winners. Students from area high schools submit entries for 2D, 3D and photography. The high schools represented in this year’s show included East Bay, Durant, Bloomingdale, Plant City, Blake, Armwood and Newsome.

The judge for this year’s show was Jennie Sikora-Muehl, a ceramic artist specializing in hand built tableware and sculptures made from earthen clay.

Best of Show was presented to Jesus Vazquez from Bloomingdale High School for his piece, “Josephine.” Sikora-Muehl said, “I loved the use of the comic strip as a back drop against the lines of the drawing. The image is well done and accurate. The shading is beautiful. This piece stood out from the rest making it a well-deserved best of show.”

The first place winner in 2D art was Brooke Hogue, a student from Durant High School, with her piece “Blooming Hope.” In photography, the first place winner was Amanda Scallon from Blake High School with “Drowning.” The first place winner in 3D was Maissie Hughes from Blake High School with “Broccoli and the Beast.”

The Center Place Fine Arts Award was given to Desiree Webber from East Bay High School for her piece called “Little China Town.”

Sikora-Muehl said, “It was a pleasure to jury this show. The work is amazing. There were so many exceptional entries that it was difficult to choose award winners.”

Center Place also presented the 2017 Patricia B. Odiorne Scholarship. Dawn Galia, Executive Director of Center Place said, “Odiorne’s wide reaching civic involvements and many accomplishments could fill a book. She was a dedicated servant of her community.” This is a $1,000 scholarship given to high school seniors. This year two young ladies who are committed to the arts and serving the community split the scholarship. Monica Diaz plans to use the scholarship in her pursuit of a degree in computer science. Likewise, Abigail Hernandez will use it to pursue a degree in behavioral science.

For more information on the 2017 High School Art Show and the Patricia B. Odiorne Scholarship, please visit www.centerplacebrandon.org.