The “Ungraded” category includes students who have multiple physical challenges (“disabilities”) including blindness, and students who are blind and also not working at a traditional grade level for their age.

First Place

Weather
sculpture, paper

by Joesf Brott, an Ungraded student at Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, in Nebraska City, NE

First Place in the Ungraded Category is Josef Brott, a student from the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Nebraska City, NE, for “Weather.”

Measuring 13 by 14 by 3 inches, a cloud of blue shades and white float in the middle. Alone, it would seem to be a light fluffy cloud from a summer day. However, surrounding the cloud is a dark mass. Dark gray and black paper rolls surround the bright cloud, the sky before a storm. As the lighting strikes from the cloud, in swirls of orange and yellow, we can infer that the storm has already arrived. The differing lengths and widths of the rolled parchment used gives the clouds and the lightning a 3D sensation, creating a tactile experience for the viewer! Brott tells a story of never quite predictable weather– always changing, always fickle.  

Second Place – Tie

Spring Mist
paint, shaving cream

by Joseph Shurbet, a student from East Northport, NY

Second Place, Tie in the Ungraded Category is Joseph Shurbet, a student from East Northport, NY, for “Spring Mist.” Spring is the season of blooming, with bright colors, possibly indicating new growth, shown at the top of this piece. Measuring 8 by 8 inches, reds, yellows, oranges, greens, and blue all melt together forming new hues and shapes and life. It could be seen as flowers or a possible sunrise in a new season, with large waves of the brush strokes. It is as though they ascend from the cold, darker, muted hues of winter. Below the brighter colors are more grays and browns … a possible murkier side of the piece. From the winter snows, and springtime mistings, comes the flourishing of trees and flowers! 

Second Place – Tie

The Sleeping Cats
resin mold

by Krystie Summers, an Ungraded student from Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia, NY

Second Place, Tie in the Ungraded Category is Krystie Summers, a student from Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia, NY, for “The Sleeping Cats.”

A tale of two cats peacefully dreaming, brought to life with resin mold. Measuring 2 ½ by 2 inches, their colors are a bit … untraditional to the average cat. One blue kitten curls up on the left and to the right a purple kitten. All eyes closed and faces neutral as they fade off into imagination land. Both lay on their right side, paws tucked into their bodies. Their left paws each support the chin as they lay quietly dreaming. Ears are open and alert for any would be threats during their time of relaxation. Their tail curls up from behind fanning out slightly in front of them. Both are settled in, ready to dream about Fancy Feast or the birds that taunt them outside their window. 

Third Place

Seed of Wonder
collage, seeds

by Kasen Sipple, an Ungraded student at Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, in Nebraska City, NE

Coming in Third Place in the Ungraded Category is Kasen Sipple, a student from the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, Nebraska City, NE, for “Seed of Wonder.”

Measuring 12 by 16 by 1 inch, a bright pink star is the center of this piece, and all the different seeds travel to meet it. Branching out to the top right corner is a background of black seeds. The green seeds weave an “S”-like trail through the backdrop. Flowers have sprouted in this area of pink, green, purple, and red hues, all surrounding a yellow speckled red topped mushroom. Fanning out below this section is a space filled with pieces of corn kernels. Shapes dot this area, stars, hearts, and a circle. In the top left, corn kernels are the most abundant, with the green seeds forming a “K”-like barrier. Four stars, green, purple, pink and green gather around a pink heart here. In the bottom right corner rice expands out from the star, bordered on either side by the corn kernels. Here, triangles and stars mass around a Pokémon ball. So many wondrous shapes and colors amidst these seeds. Amongst them the artist has signed their initials “KS”, placing themselves amid the wonder. 

Honorable Mention

Seedster
collage, seeds

by Gavin Webster, an Ungraded student at Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, in Nebraska City, NE

Coming in with Honorable Mention in the Ungraded Category is Gavin Webster, a student from the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Nebraska City, NE, for “Seedster.”

Measuring 12 by 16 by 1 inch, a wave of dark green seeds sweeps across the middle of the piece. Rice covers the top left background, arching out to touch the dark green seeds across the middle and the black seeds covering the right. Below the wave bright green seeds cover the left, giving way to black seeds, and eventually, to corn kernels on the right. Blue flowers, red hearts, yellow and purple triangles are sprinkled amongst all the seeds. Three large stars form a triangle between them, one yellow and one green in the bottom corners and one green at the top point. A perfect compilation of sizes, shapes, colors, and texture all working together in harmony.