Oakdale Patch Whiz Kids: Tartan Art Students' Work Chosen for Exclusive Show

Oakdale Patch Whiz Kids: Madeline Waggener, 12^th grade, Lindsey Miller, 10^th grade, and Joseph Thien Vu

School: 

Accomplishment: Artwork by Waggener, Miller and Vu was selected to be part of the Best 100 art show.

students Madeline Waggener and Lindsey Miller said they create art because they enjoy it and see it as a means of self-expression. It's not for recognition. But that doesn't mean they mind being noticed for their good work every now and then.

Both students, along with Joseph Thien Vu, had pieces of their work selected to be part of the Best 100 art show going on at the AZ Gallery in St. Paul through the end of the week. The field of artists was competitive, said their teacher Melissa Moe. Each high school from the metro area submits about 100 pieces of student artwork, and a panel of art professionals selects the top 100 from among all the schools’ submissions to display in the show, she said.

Both Waggener and Miller said they were surprised to find out they’d made it in.

Waggener’s piece was a ballpoint pen drawing of singer-songwriter Bjork and Miller’s was a portrait of her brother.

“It’s kind of a mysterious, haunting photo that makes you wonder why he looks like he does,” Miller said.

Miller said she turned to art as a way to express her feelings without speaking. She picked up the camera, started shooting, and liked what she saw.

“When they started turning out great, I was like, ‘Wow, this could actually be turned into something amazing,’” she said.

Waggener said she’s been an artist as long as she can remember. She started drawing before she could write or read, she said.

She’s not only interested in drawing, but sculpture, makeup art, set design, painting and designing longboards and skateboards, she said.

Because of her varied interests, Waggener's not sure what kind of a career she’ll end up in, she said, but she expects that art will be a part of it.

Miller said she’s thinking about going into graphic design or advertising.

Each week, Oakdale Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual  kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to patty.busse@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: nominator's name, nominator's e-mail, Whiz Kid's name, Whiz Kid's age, Whiz Kid's school, Whiz Kid's accomplishment, Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail patty.busse@patch.com.