Jackson Heritage Association announces art contest winners

The Jackson Heritage Association announced the winners of its seventh art contest at a reception Sunday afternoon at Jackson High School.

Each year, the association chooses a different subject for the art contest, one that is deemed to have some historical value for Jackson. This year the subject was the old "A" building at Jackson High School, which currently serves as the school's cafeteria and reception area, and stands on the site of the former Jackson Military Academy.

The "A" building was this year's choice in part because it has an uncertain future, Mabuce said.

The structure is about 90 years old and needs updating, said Cathi Stoverink, the association's archivist and organizer of the event. She said the building needs electrical work and the exterior needs work to eliminate entrances to make it more secure.

"It's always encouraging to see Jackson youth perform, not just in a classroom and not just on the athletic field, but they can also perform in the fine arts" said association president Kyle Mabuce. "I think our art department is one of the most underrated of all our fine arts because they are absolutely amazing. ... What these kids accomplish is just phenomenal."

All submissions were two dimensional projects -- the mediums used were collage, colored pencil or acrylic painting. There were 14 finalists chosen from around 75 submissions. The best in show winner was eighth-grader Callie Englehart, who did a drawing in colored pencil.

Callie said she is planning to put her prize money into her savings account to save it for college.

"I'm very happy that they used the senior high school," said Carol Roberts, mother of Brittney Sides, the first place winner in the 10th to 12th grade division. "I graduated from here and the old building does have sentimental value. ... Now I have a picture of it."

Brittney said she would probably use her prize money to buy clothes.

The Bank of Missouri has sponsored the art contest since it started in 2004 and provided the cash prizes -- Honorable mention, $5; third place, $10; second place, $15; first place, $25; and best in show, $50.

The contest has been held every year since 2004, except 2007 and 2008 when the association was busy preparing for the centennial celebration of the city's annual reunion festival, Jackson Homecomers, and the 100th anniversary of the Jackson courthouse.

The association board is considering the Jackson High School's football field, a Works Progress Administration project from the 1930s, as the subject matter for the 2013 contest, but a final decision has not yet been reached, Mabuce said.

"We always sit down in the summer, usually in June and July," Mabuce said. "We throw some subject matters out and then the board decides, usually in July, what it will be. And then our coordinator, Cathi Stoverink, will put together a package of information for each art teacher and then I'll distribute to all the schools and say 'this is what we're all about this year.'"

Last year's subject for the contest was Hubble Creek, also a WPA project.

Pertinent address:

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, MO