By Andrew Bell
Texarkana Gazette
TEXARKANA, Texas - After having to cancel for the first time in 23 years, last year Pleasant Grove High School got back to tradition with its annual Juried Art Exhibition and Senior Show on Monday evening.
The program featured more than 500 individual works on display, seven senior portfolios and eight group installations. Works included drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, digital design, photography, printmaking, product design, assemblage and 2D design.
School Arts Contributing Editor Nicole Brisco said it was nice to get back in the swing of things after not being able to hold the event last year.
"It's probably the single most important thing, as far as an art department goes - being able to showcase students' work," she said. "Art in a storage box doesn't do us a ton of good. And you never really can see work virtually like you can see it in person. That experience for our students to be able to come to what looks like a professional art exhibition is important because a lot of students don't have that opportunity."
While it was a success for current students, she said she feels for last year's seniors, who weren't able to display their works in this setting.
"I would be remiss not to mention my seniors last year because they are the ones who were really at a loss," Brisco said. "They had worked all four years in high school to be able to have their senior show. But as far as the rest of the students, I've really noticed a lot of enthusiasm. It's a special night for them."
Brisco said this experience is not only huge for art students looking to make a career out of it, but also for those who won't be a part of something like this anywhere else.
"Some of my students will go on into some type of professional art career. And some students won't," she said. "I have students who have gone on to become writers and doctors and every other field that's not art. Either way, what I have noticed over the years is both sets of students value it. Because for the student who's an artist, it prepares them for the future, and for the student who's not, this was their opportunity to be able to have that experience that they probably won't have later in life - an opportunity to shine."
At the end of the day, she said she is very proud of the work her students put out there. "There's no doubt that the work quality goes up every single year," Brisco said. "When I think back to 23 years ago when I first started, we displayed 150 pieces of artwork. It's evident that growth has happened over the years. I just feel incredibly proud because I can actually see all of that hard work."
Emergent
Honorable mention Madison Davis
Fourth place - Jordan Conley
Third place - Addison Spencer and Faye Addison
Second place - Erica Zoficn
First place - Ruby Rehkopf
Sculpture
Honorable mention Will Estes and Lily Buck
Fourth place - Matthew Thomas and Caitlyn Dyer
Third place - Logan Knowles
Second place - Mason Burrow
First place - Matthew Angier
Printmaking
Honorable mention Brianna Jackson
Fourth place Ema Allen
Third place - Mason Burrow
Second place - Matthew Thomas
First place - Gracie Carr
Narrative
Honorable mentio - Katie Cheatham and Ellie Coker
Fourth place - Jay Branch
Third place - Abby Yowell and Anna Johnson
Second place - Emma Sanderson
First place - Kendall Johnson
Mixed Media
Honorable mention - Ava Keyes and Elliot White
Fourth place - Emma Henard
Third place - Anna Johnson
Second place - Bladen Formes and Madison Ethridge
First place - Gracie Kennedy and Simren Pokhrel
Design
Honorable mention - Emma Beck
Fourth place - Leslie Reyes
Third place - Madison Ethridge
Second place - Simren Pokhrel
First place - Ellie Tye
Drawing
Honorable mention - Zoe Sturgeon
Fourth place - Leslie Reyes
Third place - Erica Zoficn
Second place - Daphne Sexson
First place - Emma Sanderson
Painting
Honorable mention - Emma Sanderson
Fourth place - Emma Henard
Third place - Ruby Rehkopf
Second place - Iris Rivera
1st place - Aubrey Oller
Purchase Awards
Keyettes - Ellie Tye
Athletics - Maddie Ethridge
Athletics - Simren Pokhrel
Drama - Daphne Sexson
NAHS - Iris Rivera
PGISD - Emma Sanderson
PGHS - Aubrey Oller
Best of Show - Emma Sanderson