Awards presented to high school artists

Memorial Hall University Museum was filled with around 350 people admiring artwork by area students Sunday during the opening of the 25th annual High School Art Symposium at Southeast Missouri State University.

Students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade from 30 participating schools in Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and St. Louis, their families and teachers gathered at the museum for a reception and awards ceremony recognizing the top three entries in seven categories.

"It's really neat, makes you feel like your work is more than just a grade," said Tiffany Warren, a senior at Sikeston High School who entered a self-portrait in the painting contest.

More than 740 entries in the categories of drawing, painting, photography, fibers, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture were narrowed down to 108 pieces by juror Robert Boyer, a graduate of Southeast and former art teacher.

The top three entries in each category received an awards certificate. The best of show award and a $2,000 Southeast art scholarship went to Tommy Johnson, a senior at Farmington High School.

"There are so many great pieces here, I had no idea that my drawing would win," said Johnson, who entered a pencil drawing depicting a father holding his son's hand.

Johnson said he spent around 16 hours on the drawing, which was originally a Christmas present for his father.

The High School Symposium was initiated in 1978 by Southeast art professor Dr. Edwin Smith, who celebrated 25 years as coordinator of the symposium during Sunday's reception.

"The best thing is the quality of work continues to grow," Smith said. "It's a learning process for people of all ages."

Many of the students participating in this year's symposium said it was the first time they had entered an art contest.

"It's pretty inspiring to me, to see all of this incredible work by my peers," said Katie Maginel, a senior at Central High School who took third place in the printmaking contest.

Stephanie Bollinger, 17, of Lesterville, Mo., entered a five-foot-tall sculpture made from scrap cardboard and held together with glue.

"It's about taking something useless and putting it to use," Bollinger said. Her entry took third place in the sculpture contest.

"I put a lot of work into it," she said. "I'm grateful to be included in the final selections."

The exhibit will be on display at the university museum through Feb. 23.

cclark@semissourian.com

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