Simsbury Artists Earn Scholastic Art Awards

In January 2020, eight Simsbury High School and six Henry James Memorial School students were recognized for their achievement during the annual Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards. The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program is a high quality level, professionally juried event that recognizes only the best Connecticut student art work. All Connecticut art students in public, parochial, and private schools are encouraged to submit artwork. Student artwork is juried by professional artists and university art faculty and is selected on merit for inclusion in a state-wide art exhibition held at the Hartford Art School. Beyond the honor of being selected for this high quality exhibit, students may be awarded Gold or Silver keys and Honorable Mention Awards in each of 18 media categories.

Art students from Simsbury High School earning award(s):

Madison Barnes (teacher Megan Lavoie), Grade 12, "Here Ends The Reading" (Film & Animation), Gold Key, Jerry's Artarama of CT, Juan Castillo Best in Film & Animation

Madelyn Dempsey (teacher Stephanie Lauretano), Grade 12

• "A Dry Earth" (Art Portfolio), Gold Key, CT Women Artists Scholarship, Hartford Art School Scholarship
• "The Last Straw" (Jewelry), Honorable Mention

Beatrice Bloom (teacher Stephanie Lauretano), Grade 12, "The African Girl" (Photography), Gold Key

Mariah Holmes (teacher Megan Lavoie), Grade 12, "Dark Waters" (Digital Art), Silver Key

Cora Nagle (teacher Stephanie Lauretano), Grade 12, "Natural Beauty versus Destruction" (Art Portfolio) Silver Key, Hartford Art School Scholarship

Julia Sica (teacher Shannon Gagne), Grade 11

• "Til Death Do Us Part" (Fashion), Honorable Mention
• "Take Me Out" (Fashion), Silver Key

Gillian Symolon (teacher Stephanie Lauretano), Grade 12 "Asphyxiation" (Fashion), Gold Key

Caitlin Walsh (teacher Thea Ciciotte), Grade 12, "Foreshortened Self Portrait" (Painting), Honorable Mention

Art students from Henry James Memorial School earning award(s):

Jack Singer (teacher Laurel Archambault), Grade 8, "Fantasy Fish" (Sculpture), Gold Key Harry Arnini/CAEA Best in Sculpture (Middle School)

Liliana Boutin (teacher Kristie Arbesman), Grade 8, "Peace Poster" (Drawing & Illustration), Honorable Mention

Angelia Meile (teacher Stephanie Lauretano), Grade 8, "Untitled" (Sculpture), Honorable Mention

Brady Quinn (teacher Kristie Arbesman), Grade 7, "Photograph of a Polar Wolf" (Digital Art), Gold Key

Ben Reynolds (teacher Laurel Archambault), Grade 8, "Sloth Print Collage" (Printmaking), Honorable Mention

Brendan Shugrue (teacher Kristie Arbesman), Grade 8, "Alabaster Animal" (Sculpture), Honorable Mention

For more about Simsbury Art Department programs, please visit the Art Education K-12 website. You can also view a presentation of the award winning artwork.