Write a commentIt was a full house Sunday April 20th at the opening reception of the 28th annual Oswego County Student Art Show!
Students and their families packed the Salmon River Fine Arts Center as this year’s awards were announced. The competition was open to any student in grades 7 -12, living in Oswego county including public, private and homeschool students. The exhibit is now on display and open to the public through May 11th during regular gallery hours.
“Art is such an important vehicle for understanding each other and the world,” said co-chair and art teacher Billie Jo Peterson. “I always look forward to seeing all the new work each year.”
The exhibit showcases 536 pieces of art from 372 talented young students from eight school districts in the county. Artwork received was divided into six different categories for judging: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media & Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art and Sculpture & Fine Craft. Cash awards were given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category for two age groups: grades 7-9 and grades 10 -12, as well as a Best of Show. In addition several special awards were given by local businesses sponsoring the show. In total $2,400 in cash prizes and 70 ribbons were awarded to students for their talents! This year’s judges were Cynthia Clabough, department chair and professor at SUNY Oswego and Charlotte Arcadi, retired K-12 art teacher and current art instructor at Cayuga Community college. Best of Show and First place winners for each category are listed below. The complete list of winning art for this year’s show can be found at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center Website.
Best of Show
Addison McCullough, Pulaski, Coping, Painting
Digital Art
Jude Eells, Oswego, Zentangle Merchandise, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Erika Dygert, Phoenix, Liar, Lies,, 1st Place Grades 10-12
Drawing Awards
Haylie Goppelt, Central Square, Anastasia, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Nora Tighe, Pulaski, Unnatural Habitat, 1st Place Grades 10-12
Mixed Media/Printmaking
Eli Creighton, Phoenix, Doodle Daydreaming, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Julia Karkowski, Pulaski, Distorted, 1st Place Grades 10-12
Painting
Hayden Emm, Central Square, The Stained Rabbit, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Nora Tighe, Pulaski, Drained, 1st Place Grades 10-12
Photography
Rebecca Roosa, Pulaski, Jungle, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Lyla Barrow, Phoenix, In with the old, Photography, 1st Place Grades 10-12
Fine Craft & Sculpture
Elayne Beck, OCCS, Jerry the Swamp Raptor, 1st Place Grades 7-9
Ainsley Wallace, Oswego, Nothing to See Here, 1st Place (Fine Craft) Grades 10-12
Addie Lehmann, Oswego The Forgotten Ones, 1st Place (Sculpture) Grades 10-12
The Salmon River Fine Arts Center would like to thank the sponsors who support this show. Deaton’s ACE Building and Home Center and Agway stores has been a major sponsor since the show’s inception twenty seven years ago. Other sponsors include Community Bank, NA in Pulaski and NBT Bank of Pulaski and the Oswego Printing/Port City Copy Center. It is through the generosity of local community-minded businesses and individuals like these that help make it possible to nurture the skills of our youth and award so many young students for their talent and efforts. And of course, recognition should be given to the many dedicated art teachers; without their encouragement and work to collect and submit student work this show would not be possible.
The Salmon River Fine Arts Center is an all volunteer-run, 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization, located in Pulaski, NY. Their mission is to enrich and educate the community by offering fine art exhibits, workshops, and classes that promote artistic expression, engage the energy and creativity of local artists and inspire the novice. The public may visit the gallery to view the current exhibit Thursdays and Fridays noon – 6 pm and Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm. For information about the Salmon River Fine Arts Center exhibits, community art classes, or volunteer and membership opportunities please visit https://www.salmonriverfineartscenter.com, the Arts Center’s Facebook page, call 315-298-7007 or email sr.fine.arts.ctr@gmail.com.
