Wellesley students take creative awards

by Rama K. Ramaswamy

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program is the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the United States. Students submit works in a number of categories including photography, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media. Thousands of entries are considered and a select few awardees receive the Gold Key, Silver Key or Honorable Mention. Work is judged on originality, technical skill and emergence of a personal voice or vision. Gold Key winners will move on to the national competition.

According to Thom Carter, K-12 Director of Art, Wellesley Public Schools, “the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Competition is the only state and national art competition for students in secondary schools, public, private or home-schooled. It gives the students a feel for what artists do get their artwork in galleries. It provides a snapshot in the life of an artist.” 

“The Globe Scholastic contest presents a unique opportunity for our students to partake in the process and particular emotions that artists regularly experience when they submit their work for review by a jury,” added Brian Reddy, WPS art teacher who is also an artist in residence.

“I feel that the Scholastic Art Awards are a wonderful acknowledgement for all the hard work and creativity that students are routinely putting into their work in the art studios and photo labs,” said Michael Frassinelli, Dana Hall’s Visual Arts Department Chair and Art Gallery Director. “Dana Hall has a long history of doing well with these awards throughout the years, but the awards themselves are never a focus with the student artists. It is a wonderful recognition of student achievement for those who have made art part of their high school experience, and especially for those who will continue in the arts in college and beyond.

But they are really here for the experience of creation. The awards only celebrate a small percentage of art students who continue to do this work year after year, but those who go on to win awards remind us about the power and importance of art in our culture and in our daily lives.”