Southwest Art Students Receive Top Honors

- News Release -

Media inquiries:

Cecily Spano, SWHS Art Teacher, Cecily.spano@mpls.k12.mn.us

Ben Zhao, SWHS Art Teacher, Ben.zhao@mpls.k12.mn.us

Southwest High School Students Receive Top Honors in Statewide Art Competition

Artwork will be sent on to compete at national level

 

Minneapolis, MN – January 17, 2013: Four Southwest High School students have been recognized for their artistic achievements in the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards (MSAA), which is a statewide affiliate of the National Scholastic Art Awards program. Two of the students received Gold Keys, the top honor awarded. Southwest teachers Cecily Spano and Ben Zhao teach the four students in their International Baccalaureate (IB) art classes.

 

Southwest High School winners:

• Marissa Nicol: Gold Key for portfolio of eight pieces; Gold Key for drawing, “Portrait of my Parents”; Silver Key for painting, “Portrait of a Memory”; Honorable Mention for painting, “One Side”
• Dane Cole: Gold Key for mixed media, “Untitled”
• Stanley Kirshner-Breen: Silver Key for mixed media, “Facing Fates”
• Natalie Ostrow: Silver Key for photography, “Dripping in Gold”

MSAA recognizes Minnesota’s most creative teenagers and offers scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors. It’s open to all Minnesota students in grades 7 through 12. This year MSAA received 1,849 individual artwork entries and 164 portfolio entries (up 500 from the previous year). The jury awarded 183 Gold Keys for individual entries and 17 Gold Keys for portfolio entries. Additionally, the judges awarded 186 Silver Keys and 340 Honorable Mentions for individual entries.

Minnesota’s Gold Key Award Ceremony will be held on Sunday March 3, 1pm, at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, Saint Paul. The Gold Key artwork winners from around the state will be on display February 7 - March 3 at the College of Visual Arts Gallery, 173 Western Avenue North, Saint Paul. The Gold Key winning artwork has been sent to New York and will now be judged at the national level as part of the National Scholastic Art Awards, competing against other Gold Keys from around the country. National awards will be announced in mid-April.

More information is available at http://www.cva.edu/gallery/msaa_awards/

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NOTE: Attached are the two pieces that won Gold Key individual artwork honors.

Southwest High School has been rated the #1 high school in Minnesota for three years in a row, and is widely known for inspiring excellence in academics, arts and athletics.

 

Southwest High School • 3414 W 47^th Street • Minneapolis, MN 55410 • 612.668.3030 • southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us