The
response to the call for Island high school students to answer these questions
though their art was impressive – the creativity and skill displayed by their
work even more so. In total, prizes were awarded to 13 of the 88 entries by students from Martha’s
Vineyard Regional High School and the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. . First place
awards went to Lucy Thompson of the Charter School for drawing, Hadley Chapman
of MVRHS for painting, Austin Chandler of MVRHS for sculpture and Kylie Hatt of
MVRHS for photography. There were also Special Distinction awards in each
category (see list below).
Competition
judges Chris Morse, who co-owns galleries in West Tisbury and Edgartown, and
artist Dan VanLandingham, an alumnus of MVRHS, both said they were impressed
with the professionalism and range of the work. The judges were asked to make
their decisions based on adherence to the competition theme,
originality/creativity, professionalism and overall impression. “I can see this
as a preview to some of these students’ futures,” said Van Landingham. Morse
commented, “The artists have chosen really personal responses to some very
global issues.”
Many works
in the competition were accompanied by the artists’ own descriptions of their
intent for the piece. Photography winner Kylie Hatt’s description of her black
and white “A Rock’s Point of View,” featuring a spreading scrub oak read: “The
point of this photo was to show that I want to preserve all open areas . . . I also want to preserve trees because not only do they
provide us with oxygen, but I feel like they are also a symbol for the island.
Try to imagine the Vineyard without trees. Pretty hard isn’t it?”
Although
Hadley Chapman’s winning painting of three progressive stages in the erosion of
the cliffs at Lucy Vincent Beach bore no description, its meaning was self
evident. Adding to the symbolism, Chapman used actual clay from the cliffs to
paint the picture.
Prizes for
first place winners are gift certificates for art supplies donated by DaRosa’s
and Educomp, and gift certificates for special distinction from Tisberry,
Scottish Bakehouse, MV Film Center and Mocha Motts. In addition, each winner
receives a free membership in VCS.
And finally, the winners!
Drawing
First Place: Lucy
Thompson, Charter School
Special
Distinction: Bean
Haller-Hiser, Charter School
Painting
First Place: Hadley
Chapman, MVRHS
Special
Distinctions: Bean
Haller-Hiser, Charter School and Sabrina
Reppert, MVRHS
Photography
First Place: Kylie
Hatt, MVRHS
Special
Distinctions: Samantha Bettencourt, Emilia Capelli, Beatriz Da Costa, Adelaide Keene, Caroline Roddy (all MVRHS)
Sculpture
First Place: Austin
Chandler, MVRHS
Special
Distinction: Henry
Jephcote, Charter School