Eight young artists have been selected as winners in the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History’s annual Youth Art Month Exhibition, which is on display March 7 - April 22 in the wings of the Great Hall of the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston.
The winners’ work will be placed in the permanent collection of the West Virginia State Museum. Each of the eight winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials at an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, in the Great Hall of the Cultural Center. The program is produced in cooperation with the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia Department of Education, in celebration of National Youth Art Month.
In addition, three works in the exhibition have been selected to represent West Virginia in the annual Congressional Art Competition for High School Students. The Congressional Competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress and culminates in a summer exhibition at the United States Capitol building.
The Youth Art Month Exhibition consists of 88 pieces by 91 students, grades 1-12, from 26 West Virginia counties. Artworks in the annual exhibition were selected from a statewide competition.
All winners were chosen by Charleston artist Robin Hammer. He is best known for his sculptural collaborative works created with Chris Dutch, also of Charleston. In the past few years, they have done specialized woodwork at Christ Church United Methodist and Temple Israel and an installation piece at Sunrise, all in Charleston. In 1995, Hammer and Dutch won a $5,000 Governor’s Award in the West Virginia Juried Exhibition at the Cultural Center. Hammer, a working artist for more than 30 years, has had his work shown in every West Virginia museum and in many regional shows. In addition, Hammer currently leads a figure drawing class at Taylor Books and works for the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services as its web master and graphic and photographic artist. In 2000, he added digital photography to his repertoire. His photographs will be featured in a spring exhibit at the Cultural Center along with the award-winning baskets of Aaron Yakim and Cynthia W. Taylor, both of Parkersburg.
A list of the winners is enclosed along with a complete list of students whose work is included in the exhibition.
Youth Art Month was established to underscore the importance of including arts experiences in all students’ education. For more information about the Youth Art Month Exhibition, call Stephanie Lilly, exhibits coordinator for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 128.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Award Winners
Ashley Baker, Grade 12, Westside High School, Wyoming County
T. J. Bogard, Grade 11, North Marion High School, Marion
County
John T. Davis, Grade 8, West Preston Middle School, Preston
County
Patricia Fuentes, Grade 12, North Marion High School, Marion
County
Jacqueline Maynard, Grade 1, Prichard Elementary School, Wayne
County
Kayla Richards, Grade 3, Widmyer Elementary School, Morgan
County
Lindsey Weddington/Kelli Messer, Grade 6, Kermit K-8 School, Mingo
County
Matt Wheeler, Grade 10, Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
Congressional Award Winners
Jeff Bee, Grade 12, Parkersburg South High School, Wood
County
Emily Kaminski, Grade 12, Woodrow Wilson High School, Raleigh
County
Sarah Ramsey, Grade 11, Clay County High School, Clay County
Best of Show ($100)
Ashley Baker, Grade 12, Westside High School, Wyoming County
Arts and Technology Award ($100)
Matt Wheeler, Grade 10, Ravenswood High School, Jackson County
Watercolor Award ($100)
Kayla Richards, Grade 3, Widmyer Elementary School, Morgan
County
Honorable Mention
Emily Cumberland, Grade 11, Jefferson High School, Jefferson
County
Cora Freeman, Grade 6, Sandfork Elementary School, Gilmer
County
John Howard, Grade 11, Woodrow Wilson High School, Raleigh
County
Youth Art Month Participants
Barbour County
Benjamin Dolly, Belington Middle School, Grade 8
Brandon Dolly, Philip Barbour High School, Grade 11
Derek R. McDowell, Kasson Middle School, Grade 8
Sam Nelson, Philip Barbour High School, Grade 11
Boone County
James Brandon Angel, Madison Middle School, Grade 6
Jonathan Edgar Anthony, Scott High School, Grade 11
Veronica Leigh Atkins, Sherman High School, Grade 12
Andy J. Bender, Brookview Elementary School, Grade 3
Cabell County
Larry Kyle Farley, Guyandotte Elementary School, Grade 5
Clay County
Christopher Kyle Douglas, Clay County High School, Grade 12
April Lynn Moore, Clay County High School, Grade 12
Sarah Ramsey, Clay County High School, Grade 11
Angie Rae Short, Clay County High School, Grade 11
Gilmer County
Luke Beall, Glenville Elementary School, Grade 1
Cora Lorraine Freeman, Sandfork Elementary School, Grade 6
Greenbrier County
Jordan Fleshman, Lewisburg Elementary School, Grade 5
Annie Lorensen, Lewisburg Elementary School, Grade 4
Katie Meadows, Lewisburg Elementary School, Grade 5
Breannan Wood, Lewisburg Elementary School, Grade 4
Hampshire County
Josh Lewis, Springfield Greenspring Elementary School, Grade 5
Jackson County
Ryan Gable, Fairplain Elementary, Grade 2
Jessica Pitts, Ripley High School, Grade 11
Pamela Redman, Ripley Middle School, Grade 7
Matt Wheeler, Ravenswood High School, Grade 10
Jefferson County
Emily Cumberland, Jefferson High School, Grade 11
Xiaofei Ji, Charles Town Middle School, Grade 8
Christine Pfileger, Ranson Elementary School, Grade 2
Elise B. Sadleson, Jefferson High School, Grade 10
Kanawha County
Sarah Hawley, Kanawha City Elementary School, Grade 5
Kara Slater, Sissonville High School, Grade 12
Emily Snodgrass, Horace Mann Middle School, Grade 7
Irene Thaxton, Sissonville High School, Grade 9
Marion County
Lyndsay Bartlett, North Marion High School, Grade 11
T. J. Bogard, North Marion High School, Grade 11
Patricia Fuentes, North Marion High School, Grade 12
Shania Glance, North Marion High School, Grade 12
Mason County
Christina Renee Belcher, Wahama High School, Grade 12
Vanessa Leigh Bird, Wahama High School, Grade 9
MaDonna Marie Cook, Wahama High School, Grade 12
Jodie Katherine Fields, Wahama High School, Grade 12
Mercer County
Jenny Plummer, Mercer High School, Grade 12
Mingo County
Roscoe Bryant, Burch Middle School, Grade 7
Sarah N. Horn, Kermit K-8 School, Grade 8
Kelli Messer, Kermit K-8 School, Grade 6
Lindsey Weddington, Kermit K-8 School, Grade 6
Monongalia County
Genevieve Yosco, North Elementary School, Grade 5
Morgan County
Chelsea Hessler, Widmyer Elementary School, Grade 4
Kayla D. Richards, Widmyer Elementary School, Grade 3
Mariah L. Ryan, Widmyer Elementary School, Grade 5
Rachel L. Wurster, Widmyer Elementary School, Grade 3
Nicholas County
Brandon McCutcheon, Summersville Junior High School, Grade 9
Eva Mullins, Richwood Junior High School, Grade 8
Manna Ann Smith, Richwood High School, Grade 12
Ohio County
Jackie Heatherley, Triadelphia Middle School, Grade 8
Hunter Keller, Middle Creek Elementary School, Grade 1
Fred Knicely, Bridge Street Middle School, Grade 8
Justava Nuzum, Bridge Street Middle School, Grade 8
Pleasants County
Dustin Britton, Pleasants County Middle School, Grade 6
Jessica Kincaid, Pleasants County Middle School, Grade 6
Micalyn Miller, Pleasants County Middle School, Grade 6
Rebecca Miller, Pleasants County Middle School, Grade 5
Preston County
John T. Davis, West Preston Middle School, Grade 8
William Dixon, Aurora Elementary School, Grade 6
Matthew Donelson, Aurora Elementary School, Grade 6
Kimberly Duckworth, Preston High School, Grade 11
Matthew Snyder, Aurora ElementarySchool, Grade 6
Markala Taylor, Valley Elementary School, Grade 1
Raleigh County
Jackie Nicole Bailey, Liberty High School, Grade 12
John Howard III, Woodrow Wilson High School, Grade 11
Emily Carol Kaminski, Woodrow Wilson High School, Grade 12
Blaine Adare McKinney, Park Junior High School, Grade 8
Ritchie County
Heather Nicholle Gay, Ritchie County High School, Grade 12
Megan Raquel Griffith, Ritchie County High School, Grade 12
Jenna Diane Rollins, Ritchie County High School, Grade 10
Wayne County
Victoria Anne Giuffrida, Kenova Elementary School, Grade 5
Jacqueline Maynard, Prichard Elementary School, Grade 1
Jessica Thompson, Spring Valley High School, Grade 12
Megan Elizabeth Welch, Vinson Middle School, Grade 7
Wirt County
Stacy Dye, Wirt County High School, Grade 10
Naddine Ashlee Hollen, Wirt County High School, Grade 12
James Michael Nutter, Wirt County High School, Grade 11
Selena Roberts, Wirt County High School, Grade 12
Wood County
Jeff Paul Bee, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 12
Kyle Christopher Camp, Parkersburg South High School, Grade
12
Erinn Holly Ellis, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 11
Brad James Sheppard, Parkersburg South High School, Grade 10
Wyoming County
Ashley Chrisann Baker, Westside High School, Grade 12
Joseph Lusk, Westside High School, Grade 12
Miranda Morgan, Westside High School, Grade 10
Justin Stewart, Westside High School, Grade 12