Greenville Technical College’s Department of Visual Arts (DVA) 30th Annual Upstate High School Art Exhibit (AUHSAE) is now available to view virtually. The exhibit includes 162 artworks from 19 Upstate high schools, highlighting the quality of Upstate high school art instruction.
Thirty-six high school artists have been recognized for their superior talents and creativity with special exhibit awards in 12 categories, including video and animation, as well as traditionally developed works in drawing, painting, photography and sculpture.
The exhibit, which was scheduled to open in late March with an awards ceremony, was canceled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, thanks to technology, the installation at the Benson Campus Galleries is available for viewing online through the DVA’s Instagram account (@greenvilletech_dva), Part One and Part Two.
Blake Praytor graciously agreed to juror the 2020 AUHSAE, choosing the award winners. Prior to Praytor’s retirement as lead professor of Photography and GTC DVA chair, he played an integral role in developing the size and scope of the DVA as well as AUHSAE. His photographs have been shown in numerous exhibitions across the Carolinas and are included in the collections of the Greenville County Museum of Art, the South Carolina State Museum and the Asheville Museum of Art, to name a few.
“I find that over the past 20 years of seeing the AUHSAE, the students’ technical skills have become more sophisticated as have their inclusion of content within their works,” said Praytor. “These works, though they may have begun as assignments, transcend assignment to communicate emotions and personal expressions. It seems to me that today’s young artists are more in tune with their emotions and more willing and able to execute art from their inner selves.”
“Geometric Warmth,” a Design & Color entry featuring gesso, magazine and water-soluble wax pastel by Asha Palmer-Carson of Pendleton High School, was selected as Best in Show.
Award winners in each category for the 2020 AUHSAE are as follows:
- 3D Design: first, Sabrina Kindervater (Fine Arts Center); second, Anna Duren (Fine Arts Center); third, Samantha Barnhart (Fine Arts Center)
- Animation: first, Benay Daniel (SCGSAH); second, Emma Perez (SCGSAH); third, Ed Kelso (SCGSAH)
- Ceramics: first, Kaitey Threatt (Clinton High School); second, Wylder Voegele (SCGSAH); third, Sergalina Quijano (Woodruff High School)
- Design & Color: first, Grace Stanley (Eastside High School); second, Natalia Halachev (GREEN Charter School); third, Casandra Moser (Pendleton High School)
- Drawing: first, Grant Rogers (Riverside High School); second, Izzy Fisher (Easley High School); third, Maren Penn (Easley High School)
- Graphic Design: first, Mersina Argyropais (SCGSAH); second, Isabella Constantino (Greenville Tech Charter High School); third, Brennan Jones (Bonds Career Center)
- Illustration: first, Madison Harrison (Wade Hampton High School); second, Jessamine Crowley (Riverside High School); third, Rosio Gonzalez (Woodruff High School)
- Metals: first, Kayla Sheehan (Fine Arts Center); second, Claire Stephens (SCGSAH); third, Blaise Nettles (SCGSAH)
- Painting: first, Anna Williams (Fine Arts Center); second, Violet Kilpatrick (GREEN Charter School); third, Anna Hafner (Greenville Tech Charter High School)
- Photography: first, Gavin Wheeler (SCGSAH); second, Thomas Hicks (Fine Arts Center); third, Briana Hawthorne (Fine Arts Center)
- Printmaking: first, Katherine Wiedemann (Fine Arts Center); second, John Wright (SCGSAH); third, Emma Clements (Wren High School)
- Video: first, Galen Cunningham (Fine Arts Center); second, Caleb Eells (Fine Arts Center)
Award winners and their school art programs will receive their cash awards through the mail. Cash awards have been made possible through the generosity of the Metropolitan Arts Council, Netalytics, APCO Plastics, and the Greenville Tech Foundation.
To learn more about the Department of Visual Arts, visit www.gvltec.edu/DVA.
Artwork: “Geometric Warmth,” by Asha Palmer-Carson of Pendleton High School, was selected as Best in Show.