Young Simsbury Artists Crush It During Competition

ABOVE: Artwork earning awards include (left to right from top row): painting by senior Emma Pulley; jewelry by sophomore Charlotte Ness; printmaking by seventh-grader Ryan Hefferon; digital art by junior Keira Gabel - Gold Key; sculpture by eighth-grader Kaidan Nunez; ceramics and glass by senior Sawyer Kuhrt - Gold Key; design by senior Jenna Lee; printmaking by eighth-grader Zoe Conway; ceramic and glass by eighth-grader Zoe Gidman; ceramic and glass by eighth-grader Kathryn Brady; photography by senior Hudson Sirois; double-sided acrylic painting by senior Hannah Granger; digital art by junior Erin Callahan; photography by sophomore Ronin Davis; sculpture by seventh-grader Ryan Hefferon - CAEA Arnini Best in Show: Sculpture Group 1; double-sided acrylic painting by senior Hannah Granger.

Courtesy of Simsbury Schools

SIMSBURY, CT — Simsbury's young artists in both high school and middle school had a very productive January, winning several awards and designations during a regional art competition.

According to the school system, nine Simsbury High School (SHS) students and five Henry James Memorial School (HJMS) students were recognized for their achievements during the annual Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards.

The nine SHS students garnered a total of 10 awards and five HJMS pupils garnered six awards.

The students’ art teachers were SHS's Thea Ciciotte, Shannon Gagne, Stephanie Lauretano, Sara McLaughlin and HJMS’s Laurel Archambault and Drew Mullen.

This national program originated to honor the creative efforts of grade 7–12 students, but is now the largest and most senior program in the United States that recognizes the best student artwork in each state.

Out of nearly 3,000 entries from public, parochial and private schools in Connecticut, only about 600 are selected by professional artists and university art faculty to receive an award.

This year's winners were honored at an awards ceremony on Jan. 29 at the University of Hartford Lincoln Theater.

Additionally, their artwork will be on display at a state-wide art exhibition held at the Silpe Gallery on the University of Hartford campus.

Beyond the honor of being selected for this high-quality exhibit, certain artwork was awarded Gold or Silver Keys and Honorable Mentions in 17 different media categories.

Gold Key winners will have their artwork reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel of judges at the National Level in March.

The following Simsbury students earned awards:

Henry James Memorial School

• Kathryn Brady (Grade 8) - Silver Key, Ceramics & Glass

• Zoe Conway (Grade 8) - Honorable Mention, Printmaking

• Zoe Gidman (Grade 8) - Silver Key, Ceramics & Glass

• Ryan Hefferon (Grade 7) - Silver Key, Printmaking / Gold Key, Sculpture

• Kaidan Nunez (Grade 8) - Silver Key, Sculpture

Simsbury High School

• Erin Callahan (Grade 11) - Silver Key, Digital Art

• Ronin Davis (Grade 10) - Silver Key, Photography

• Kiera Gabel (Grade 11) - Gold Key, Digital Art

• Hannah Granger (Grade 12) - Honorable Mention, Painting / Honorable Mention, Art Portfolio

• Sawyer Kuhrt (Grade 12) - Gold Key, Ceramics & Glass

• Jenna Lee (Grade 12) - Silver Key, Design

• Charlotte Ness (Grade 10) - Honorable Mention, Jewelry

• Emma Pulley (Grade 12) - Silver Key, Painting

• Hudson Sirois (Grade 12) - Honorable Mention, Photography

For more about Simsbury Art Department programs, visit the Art Education K-12 website at https://www.simsbury.k12.ct.us/district/art-education-k-12.