San Andreas, CA…ArtSpirit, the 19th annual High School Juried Exhibition opened on March 4th in Calaveras Arts Council’s Gallery Store. Student artists are from Calaveras and Bret Harte high schools and submitted artwork created during their classroom sessions. The artwork was judged and ribbons are hung on the pieces in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in 10 different categories. The public is welcome to come in, view the show during regular gallery hours, Tuesday – Thursday from 11:00am to 6:00pm and Friday from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The show closes on Saturday, April 2. The gallery is located at 22 Main, San Andreas. Due to scheduling issues there will not be a reception however there are treats for those who visit the ArtSpirit exhibition.

Cash awards are awarded to 1st and 2nd place winners. Third place winners are awarded a ribbon to recognize their good work.

The students submitted artwork in 10 different categories. The categories Digital/Computer Art, Oil or Acrylic Painting, Watercolor Painting, Pastels, Drawing/Illustration, Functional Ceramics, Sculpture, Printmaking, Other/Mixed Media, and Scratch board. A small group of students hung and labeled the show which is an awesome task given how many pieces were entered.

A big round of applause to art teachers Mark Waelty from Bret Harte High School and Karen Wallace from Calaveras High School for all their hard work and encouragement for the arts.

Since March has been designated both nationally and statewide as Arts Education Month, this ArtSpirit exhibit is meant to call attention to the importance of having an education steeped in the arts. The exhibit provides the public with the rare opportunity to observe and purchase art created by the county’s many very talented teens. This year 95 students submitted pieces for the show.

ArtSpirit was chosen as the title to symbolize that through art, students often feel a spirit to express their innermost feelings, whether it be rage and fear, or joy and spirituality. The public will be impressed with the quality and the diversity and will be able to cast a ballot for their favorite artwork. At the end of the show a Popular Choice cash award will be presented to the student artist with the most votes.

Winners in Categories:

Digital Art
Kaya Fishman, League of Legends, Land and Wolf 1st place BHHS

Acrylic-Oil
Alyse Keller, Eloquent Disposition 1st place BHHS
Kelly Baird, Cool Fruit 2nd place CHS
Alyse Keller, Reverie 3rd place BHHS

Watercolor
Alyx Fairman, Snow Play 1st place BHHS
Tobias Flatgen, A Beautiful Day 2nd place BHHS
Deb Brant, Tranquility 3nd place BHHS

Pastels
Summer Hamari, Night in the City 1st place BHHS
Erik Vanderliet, Mad 2nd place BHHS

Drawing
Skylar Foust, Camerman 1st place BHHS
Chole Bowman, Sun Bath 2nd place BHHS
Skylar Foust, Clockwork 3rd place BHHS

Ceramics Functional
Sierra Reusche, Berry Bowl 1st place CHS
Hailey Long, Berry Bowls 2nd place CHS
Corina Mata, Jar and Lid 3rd place CHS

Sculpture – Ceramic Other
Kelly Baird, Soloman the Salamander 1st place CHS
Zoe Merino, Orb 2nd place CHS
Zoe Hoffman, Turtle 3rd place CHS

Other Mixed Media
Francisco Munoz, Love Doesn’t Change 1st place BHHS
Laura Kraomen, The Pink Lady 2nd place BHHS

Printmaking
Omar Munoz, Elefante de la Trinta 1st place BHHS
Gabriela Gomez, Linoim Block 2nd place BHHS

Scratch (new category)
Francisco Munoz, Pursuit of Happiness 1st place BHHS
Bridget Hamari, German Shepherd 2nd place BHHS
Timmy Jones, Kilo and Ren 3rd place BHHS

Students participating in the show are:

Bret Harte High School:
Deb Brant, JJ Brown, Anthony Bullmaster, Zedariah Camden, David Carter, Tyler Cones, Alyx Fairman, Kaya Fishman, Tobias Flatgen, Skylar Foust, Tristen Gerhensmeyer, Gabriela Gomez, Claire Gorman, Brighton Haman, Summer Hamari, Bridget Hamari, Timmy Jones, Emmary Jones, Nick, Kalika, Clara Keirns, Alyse Keller, Joseph Kraft, Laura Kraomen, Tim Lunsford, Ryan Marinics, Omar Munoz, Francisco Munoz, Greta Nilsen, Chole Rowton, Jack Sanchez, Brenna Sprake, Erik Vanderliet, Dionica Vargas, Roman Wagner.

Calaveras High School:
Adrian Arvizu, Colton Anderson, Kelly Baird, Sam Castro, Hugo Contreros, Holly DeMasters, Kaitlin Dollens, Laney Evans, Alyssa Galvan, Araceli Garduno, Lindsey Gaspers, Andrew Gish, Jorden Givens, Mackenzie Hamilton, Alisha Hernandez, Zoe Hoffman, Elizabeth Hopper, Madison James, David Jimenez, Micheal Lakin-Knaus, Hailey Long, Olivia Martinez, Corina Mata, Hannah Mazie, Zoe Merino, Kyra Miles, Malene Miller, Moses Moreno, Syke Parris, Kennedie Pevarek, Molina Reth, Sierra Reusche, Tyler Smith

Calaveras Arts Council a 501(c)3 not for profit corporation, has been assisting local schools for over two decades with its esteemed Arts in Education program which provides a wide range of visual and performing arts workshops and assemblies. For more information, phone the Calaveras County Arts Council, 754-1774 or visit www.calaverasarts.org.