The 2021 Scioto County High School Art Show “Visually Literate” was held virtually, displaying 50 pieces of student artwork. The annual event is traditionally held in the Appleton Gallery at the Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, but was conducted virtually this year because of COVID restrictions.

Artwork was submitted digitally, judging took place over the internet, and an awards presentation was recorded for all the students to watch together with their teachers on April 12. The event is available to watch at https://youtu.be/NlwOPJXT0b8.

“Despite the show not being in person, I think it went very well. It was about as good as we could possibly do for an online show. I think the kids were excited about it, and I think all around the county the kids look forward to it every year,” said Northwest art teacher, Chris Enz.

There were 122 works of art submitted from 11 school districts and the show was juried to include 50 pieces. Categories included Mixed Media, Sculpture, Color Drawing, Photography/Graphic Design, Black & White Drawing, and Painting. Kevin Lyles, MFA, and Tom Suter, MFA, both art instructors at the University of Rio Grande, were the jurors for the show. Suter also gave a brief presentation about the artwork as part of the awards presentation.

Best of Show was awarded to Tylan Osborne for her drawing titled “Adventure Awaits.” She will be presented a $300 award with her Best of Show medallion and ribbon. Tylan is a senior at Northwest High School, and Enz is her art teacher.

“Tylan has a lot of natural ability. She’s always putting a little extra in her work. She always thinks beyond the assignment and does a little bit extra. As far as this piece itself, there are a lot techniques we went over in class and her skills really developed during this entire year,” Enz said.

First Place winners were awarded $100 each, and awards went to Rebecca Morgan for Mixed Media; Allison Cooper for Sculpture; Ian Skeenes for Color Drawing; Jenna Kaye Mays for Photography/Graphic Design; Trista Montgomery for Black and White Drawing, and Chandler Carter for Painting.

Second Place awards went to Abigail Winters for Mixed Media; Audrey Litteral for Sculpture; Beau Castaneda for Color Drawing; Mika Jones for Photography/Graphic Design; Malachi Foreman for Black and White Drawing, and Riley Galloway for Painting.

Third Place awards went to Juniper Allen for Mixed Media; Tylan Osborne for Color Drawing; Abigail Winters for Photography/Graphic Design; Tyler Brown for Black and White Drawing, and Chandler Carter for Painting.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to Katie Fife, Karleigh Adams, Kenna Wrage, Zebulon Allen, Kloe Montgomery, Riley Galloway, Addison Copley, Erica Cade, Gail Montgomery, J.J. Cooper, Beau Castaneda, Djean Cardosa and Mikah Moore.

Matt Cram, chair of the art department at Shawnee State University, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Erica Cade who all plans to study art at Shawnee State University next fall. Erica is a senior at Valley High School and her art teacher is Ms. Kelly Montgomery.

Trista Montgomery was recognized for her drawing “Luna Eclipse” which is being used as part of the logo for this year’s art show. Trista is a junior at Northwest High School, and Enz is her art teacher.

Students whose work also merited inclusion in the show were Damien Wallace, Mckayla Colley, Caiden Maddix, Karisa Holsinger, Zoe Starkey, Ezra Veach, Gabriela Sotelo, Garrett McNerlin, Joshua Ramey, Paiton Blevins, Tianna Lore-Prado, Emilie Dixon, and Taylor Farrell.

Sharee Price, gifted services coordinator at the South Central Ohio Educational Services Center, coordinated the event and presented awards. All participants will receive certificates and t-shirts (with the logo for the show). All award winners will also receive prize ribbons.

The sponsors for the Visually Literate High School Art Show include: William and Barbara Burke, General Electric Aviation Peebles Test Operation, Gary and Marilyn Hairston, Richard D. Marting Foundation, Portsmouth Rotary Club, Scioto Foundation, Shawnee State University, and Southern Ohio Medical Center.

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