First Place

Self Portrait
mixed media

by Maddie Peters, a student from the Indiana School for the Blind in Indianapolis, IN

Coming in First Place in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Category is Maddie Peters, a student from the Indiana School for the Blind, for “Self Portrait.” 

Measuring 11 by 6 1/2 by 4 inches, the artist creates a shadow box housing a jeweled portrait of themself, in a variety of textures.  The shape of the face is an oval that covers most of the length of the box, cut from peach colored felt. A narrow, felt neck, of the same peach color, extends from the face into shoulders that are a darker maroon with tiny sparkles.  Two eyes are affixed to the middle of the face, made from small round gems.  The nose is a diamond shaped gem set between the two eyes. Below the nose, the artist’s mouth is a square purple jewel with a shiny silver frame around it. Earrings on either side of the face are the same clear, diamond shaped gems.

Sprouting from the portrait’s head is a cascade of hair formed from strands of pearls, purple shiny Mardi Gras beads and a luxuriously thick black cord.  The hair tumbles down one side of the face and the other side of the face has a glass rectangular bead as hair.  The asymmetrical nature of the hair gives a feeling that the hair is windswept.  A necklace is affixed to the neck area – a teardrop locket which looks solid and thick, on a silver chain. In the background, the shadow box is lined with a textured gold paper, with scrolls and whirls embossed on the paper. The deep purple and maroon colors, combined with gold, silver and gems give this piece a bright, regal look.

Second Place

Live Planet Luv
mixed media

by Mr. Aaron Hill’s Class at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Miami, FL

Second Place in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Category is Mr. Aaron’s class from Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, for “Live Planet Luv.”

Measuring 48 by 48 by 4 inches, this piece reflects a colorful environment. Rolling green hills hold a variety of pretty patterned origami flowers with multicolored stamens popping out the top like lilies. Above the grass, intricate butterflies and dragonflies cut from colorful paper and affixed with googly eyes and rhinestones are strung with clear string. Above are round clouds cut from white foam, cascading down to meet the insects. Behind the scene, a rainbow of pink, red, orange, yellow, green and light blue arches across the paper. These artists did a magnificent job showcasing the bright beauty of our planet, perhaps when life is new in springtime. 

Third Place

Black Coco Tower
sculpture

by Escher Hooper, a student from Grand Island, NE

Coming in Third Place in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Category is Escher Hooper, a student from Grand Island, NE, for “Black Coco Tower.”

Measuring 46 by 12 by 12 inches, the artist creates a 3D sculpture made of wood, painted in a black acrylic that commands the viewer to look and feel its magnitude. It takes the shape of a tall house on stilts, with a triangular roof that overhangs the edge. The square structure below the roof has four open sides with pillars holding it up and thin horizontal support beams that resemble handrails. Inside the square is a small square chamber, in which sits a small electric tea light candle that casts a warm glow around the dark black. The entire structure resembles a lighthouse or perhaps a lantern. Perhaps the artist’s intent was to show light in the darkness, how even the smallest of lights can shine through.  

Honorable Mention

No Name
monoprint

by Amora Crowell, a student from the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, PA

Winning an Honorable Mention in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Category, is Amora Crowell, a student from the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, PA, with their piece: “No Name.” 

Measuring 9 x 12 inches, centered on a stark white page is a painted rectangle that fills most of the page, but leaves a crisp white border along the edge. The rectangle is light sand, colored with an uneven coverage of paint resulting in texture on the page that resembles light muslin fabric.  The next layer of paint consists of multiple colors and patterns across the page. In the top right corner is a bright shiny purple stripe of paint, but upon closer inspection, one can see it consists of textured dots. From the top to the bottom and covering about half of the width of the piece are dark black shiny dots and dashes of paint.  There are also ocean blue shiny dots of paint in a stripe, peeking through the black and purple areas.  Across the top of the entire piece are bright shiny yellow lines of paint, which form a spider-web like square. The colors overlap and shine through each layer. In the bottom right-hand corner, the name “Amora” is handwritten.

Honorable Mention

Gideon Reisdorfer
watercolor, tempera

by Gideon Reisdorfer, a student from Oronoco, MN

Winning an Honorable Mention in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Category is Gideon Reisdorfer, a student from Oronoco, MN, for “Color of Love.”

Measuring 11.75 by 11.75 inches, displayed is a large hand-drawn heart shape that splits up into sections with curls of puffy paint. Each section is painted in soft shades of watercolor, including blue, green, violet, red, orange, and yellow, like the rainbow. The background is also split into sections, this time with straight lines radiating from the heart’s outline. These sections are painted in messy watercolor that does not completely fill the shapes. The artist’s intent may have been to show how someone’s heart can feel several different emotions. Additionally, with the contrast of watercolors, the viewer cannot help but wonder if Gideon is wanting to reflect how feelings can be complex.