The Art of Getting by in Junior High : May 2014

I'd like to premise this post by saying that, the junior Visual Art Scholastic Event is a pretty big deal. It's not just your run-of-the-mill put-it-up and get a ribbon contest. JrVASE inspires students to grow as artists, hones their interpersonal skills and sparks creativity through competition. Students have to go before a juror for a one-on-one interview and discuss their work and defend their aesthetic choices and ideas. This can be a truly empowering experience for students. I know it was for me, when I participated in VASE many moons ago.

I always tell my students that art is like a sport. In which, natural talent is bunk and you have to work hard and practice to get better! Well these students and their amazing work makes me question my own philosophy. Oh, they work hard but their work is just SO good! They were up against over 200 other artworks, an interview, and a bus break-down. They were poised, professional, and made me so proud.

The following work received the highest scores possible and moved onto the final round of judging!