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Catholic schools art show highlights talent of budding artists
By Julie Filby
More than 500 Catholic school students, from age 5 to 18, displayed their works of skill and imagination at the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools annual art fair April 15-17 at Bishop Machebeuf High School.
“Art is such an important part of educating the whole student,” said Machabeuf art teacher Nicole Lee, event chair. “Not only does it allow students to express themselves in new ways and experience new things, it also builds problem-solving skills and encourages creative thinking.”
Pieces on display included paintings, drawings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, collages, baskets, paper machè, leather work, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and computer-generated art.
Three students were honored at Friday night’s opening for Best of Show: Marissa Sanchez of Notre Dame School (kindergarten-fifth grade); Ana Karen Santos of Annunciation School (sixth-eighth grade); and Catherine Arend of J.K Mullen High School (ninth-12th grade).
Arend was also awarded a $250 scholarship from the Colorado Dominican Vocation Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes vocations of the priesthood and the artist, and encourages dialogue about art and spirituality.
The foundation recognized teachers as well. St. Vincent de Paul’s art department, under the direction of Sharon Burke, was selected as Art Department of the Year. Art instructors at St. Mary School in Littleton, Mary Kay Klein and Rhona Fleishman, were honored as Educators of the Year.
One St. Mary student represented at the show, sixth-grader Patrick Heffernan, explained what he’d learned while creating his piece for the fair.
“We learned to blend,” he said, describing the owl he drew with colored pencils and blended using mineral spirits. “To paint animals you really need to draw a lot of texture, especially with an owl because of all the feathers.
“We do a lot of fun things in art,” he added.
The following high-school students won first-place ribbons in respective categories: Maya Stackhouse, J.K. Mullen (painting); Arend (drawing value); Alezandre Todericcca, Holy Family (drawing color); Lisa Williams, J.K. Mullen (photography black and white); Barbara Wittenberg, Holy Family (sculpture); Larissa Hofmann, Holy Family (mixed media); Dante Testalini, Mullen (ceramics functional); Adam Clarke, Bishop Machebeuf (ceramics non-functional); Wesley Aragon, Holy Family (jewelry); and Craig Cowden, J.K. Mullen (computer-generated art).
A committee of art teachers selects judges each year. This year’s judges were illustrator and animator Rich Florence; and Lynn Flieger Countryman, artist, speaker and instructor at Regis University. Countryman serves on the board of advisors for the Colorado Dominican Vocational Foundation.
Golden Paintbrush Awards were presented to three students from each school to recognize well-done artwork in three age groups: kindergarten-second grade, third-fifth grade, and sixth-eighth grade.
“I love art!” said Charlie Gaasch, a second-grader from St. Thomas More School whose interpretation of a piece from 19th century painter Paul Gaugin was on display at the show. “I love that you can use your imagination and your mind, and no one stops you with what you want to do.”
All schools in the archdiocese were invited to participate in the event.
“We have a pretty consistent group of around 25 schools who participate each year, including this year,” Lee said. “The show celebrates art in the Catholic schools—it celebrates the beauty and skill that God has blessed our students with as a community.”
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