Three scholars win the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for aspiring artists
By Aster Gardner and Kaitie Helt
Scholars Brighton Sorey, Evan Brown, and Isaac Moran each received recognition for their pieces submitted to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. There are three possible awards: the gold key, the silver key, and an honorable mention. Sorey received a silver key and two honorable mentions, Brown received a silver key, and Moran received an honorable mention.
Moran, a senior, also received an honorable mention for his piece “The Cathedral Styrofoam Model.” Describing his work, Moran explained, “The Cathedral Styrofoam Model is a 3d model of a cathedral inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. It is one of the well-known masterpieces of Gothic architecture and shows from its detail the craftsmanship that has a long history of its persistence and faith, due to taking over 600 years to build.” His model captures defining architectural features as he noted, “the model features the two spires with repeated protrusions on the sides of them, windows on the face of each spire, and plenty of different sizes of arches all on the facade of the model.”
When asked how he felt about earning this award, Moran shared, “I am very honored and thankful to get this award–it does mean a lot to me.” His perspective on the award differs from the other scholars, as he has stated that he does wish for a professional art career. “I do plan on pursuing art in the future personally and maybe even professionally because it’s something I’ve always liked to do since I was little,” Moran stated.
Sorey, a junior, received a silver key for “Just How to Be” and two honorable mentions for “Intrinsic Flux” and “Avia Indignus.” Speaking about “Just How to Be,” she stated: “I am glad this piece will be displayed as it is one of my most recent pieces.” Sorey added that “it presents a lot of symbolism and precision that I think really mirror my intentions as an artist.” Reflecting on her piece “Intrinsic Flux,” Sorey explained: “This piece is my second most time consuming piece I have created so far,” as it contains “many hidden details and motifs.”
Despite her recognition, she does not plan to pursue art professionally. “Artists, especially in this day and age, are severely underappreciated as well as underpaid. I’ve never wanted to be an artist as I always knew it would never lead to a comfortable life,” Sorey said. While she is “grateful that [her] art has gained recognition,” she did express doubt as to whether a contest is the best way to determine the value of an art piece.
Brown, a sophomore, was awarded a silver key for his piece titled “Everything Seems Small From Here.” It’s under the illustration category and features a small cat on a rooftop gazing down at many buildings. “The cat represents me,” Brown stated. “I feel distant and out of touch.” He also explained that the piece is about “appreciating what makes you different” and “sometimes you have to step back and see things how they are.” The lone cat at the top of the piece, separated from the world below it, serves as a reminder that feeling distant isn’t always negative. It’s a way to objectively look at the world around you and appreciate it for what it is, while also appreciating the differences that may separate you from it.
Brown had little focus on the award itself, however. “I guess it’s nice. I haven’t won any contests before,” he said. He held more gratitude for Jeri Dockery, the art teacher at Haas Hall Academy Rogers. “Ms. Dockery has been helpful,” Brown expressed. “I procrastinate a lot, but she really pushes me. It’s cool that she’s interested.” When asked if he wanted to pursue art in the future, Brown stated that he would like a career in art, but believes it to be obsolete.
Dockery has repeatedly expressed the sentiment that someone does not need to want to pursue art professionally in order to develop their skills in it. She said it’s “good to have both academics and creativity,” as it makes a person more “well-rounded.” Dockery has stated that she wants to push her scholars to “work to their highest ability,” or bring out the art skills even they weren’t aware of having. She noted that the majority of pieces her scholars submit to art competitions are works they have completed for class, highlighting that many of them would not have considered creating or submitting art pieces without that outside motivation.
Despite differing views on the awards, Sorey, Brown, and Moran each found meaning in their creative process and in sharing their work. Whether the art remains a passion, a hobby, or becomes a life long career, their recognition in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition highlights the talent present within Haas Hall Rogers. With the encouragement of teachers like Dockery, these scholars continue to prove that creativity is worth pursuing.
