SF Student Wins Purchase Award at Art Contest

The following release was sent in by Amy Leshko, Senior Account Executive of Star Group Communications:

The winners of the 25^th annual “Touch the Future” art show were recently celebrated at an awards ceremony held at the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists (MCGOPA) at SPP Galleries. The annual event began as a tribute to Christa McAuliffe, NASA’s teacher in space who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, and gives students in Bucks and Montgomery county public high schools the chance to participate in a professionally juried show. The exhibit also offers the public an opportunity to view the depth and breadth of the talent of local students and the dedication of area teachers.

Three best of show winners were chosen along with 14 category winners, four PSEA purchase prize winners, and a juror’s prize winner from the approximately 850 pieces of artwork submitted by 25 school districts throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Sponsored by the Mideastern Region of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (MER/PSEA) and the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS), the show is comprised of 225 pieces juried by Barbara Suplee, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Art + Design Education and Art Therapy at the University of the Arts, and an active advocate for arts education.

“’Touch the Future’ is a wonderful title for this show–for it celebrates the skills and aptitudes that are needed in the 21^st century,” said Suplee. “We are now living in a conceptual age, an age in which creative thinking and innovation are needed–and the students in this show exemplify that mindset.”

The event is co-chaired by art teachers Lynne Pribis of Upper Dublin High School, Joanne Harris of North Penn High School and Connie Berger of Cheltenham High School.

“Every year I walk through this exhibit and am truly amazed,” said Linda J. Weaver, president of the Mideastern Region. “Despite all of the funding issues and hits these arts programs have taken over the years, this show has featured creative, sophisticated art work for the past 25 years. This exhibit is a great testament to the value and importance of providing our students with opportunities that go beyond standardized tests and allow them to be well-rounded young adults.”

The exhibition will be open to the public through Sunday, Feb. 26, free-of-charge, during gallery hours: Mon. - Fri. 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists (MCGOPA) at SPP Galleries is located at 800 Schuylkill River Road, West Conshohocken in the Inquirer Building on Rt. 23 between Rts. 320 and 202. For more information, visit http://www.mcgopa.org/.

Winners by county are as follows (with best of show, juror’s prize and purchase prize pieces highlighted with an asterisk and underlined):

Bucks County

Bensalem High School

Kelly Burkey, Best of Category – 3D Single Medium Sculpture

(Instructor Aimee Krause) 

Central Bucks East High School

*Michele Spivak, Third Place “Best of Show”

(Instructor Helene Moriarty)

Council Rock South High School

Elaine Bishop, Best of Category – Traditional Silver Print

(Instructor George Steinfeldt)

Pennsbury High School

*Marisa Purdy, First Place “Best of Show”

(Instructor Lala Danyelle)

Melissa Hough, Best of Category – Painting (Acrylic/Oil/Watercolor)

(Instructor Jim Minton)

Montgomery County

Abington High School

*James Evans, Second Place “Best of Show”

(Instructor Nicole Caracciolo)

Cheltenham High School

Grace Park, Best of Category – Printmaking

(Instructor Connie Berger)

Harriton High School

Ana Walker, Best of Category – 3D Functional

(Instructor Peter Ranieri)

Eno Olson, Best of Category – Color Drawing

(Instructor Peter Murray)

*Ethan Anderson, Purchase Prize

(Instructor Kate Witman)

Hatboro-Horsham High School

Alison Shapiel, Best of Category – 2D Mixed Media

(Instructor Lori Gallagher)

Ji Hye Chun (Alexis), Best of Category – Fiber-Crafts

(Instructor Lori Gallagher)

Kate Miller, Best of Category – 2D Design (no digital)

(Instructor Russell Coleman)

Lower Merion High School

*Cameron King, Purchase Prize

(Instructor Harriet Ackerman)

Gabrielle Constantine, Best of Category – Jewelry/Metals

(Instructor Harriet Ackerman)

Methacton High School

Ellen Catanese, Best of Category – B&W Drawing

(Instructor Jason Koons)

Shari Anne Heck, Best of Category – Digital Imaging/Computer Graphics

(Instructor Beth Hall)

*Phoebe Mikalonis, Purchase Prize

(Instructor Linda Crane)

Upper Dublin High School

*Chelsea Eyer, Juror’s Prize

(Instructor John Rodgers)

Julianne Santiago, Best of Category – 3D Mixed Media

(Instructor John Rodgers)

Kelly Toner, Best of Category – Digital Photography

(Instructor Steve Hopkins)

Upper Merion High School

*Caitlin Milke, Purchase Prize

(Instructor Lisa Burns)

MER/PSEA is comprised of the 42 local teacher associations that represent more than 16,000 public school educators in Bucks and Montgomery counties. The Council for the Advancement of Public Schools was founded in 1995 to celebrate the success and value of public schools in Bucks and Montgomery counties. More information is available at www.FriendsOfPublicEd.org.