Washington State High School artists to be honored

State superintendent Chris Reykdal will announce annual Art Show winners this Friday.

May 16, 2018 8:30 am

A necklace. A teapot. A painting of Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

Those and other works of student art have been featured at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The agency will host the 45th Annual Superintendent’s High School Art Show on May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Old Capitol Building in Olympia.

The show brings together high school artists from around the state who were regional winners in their Educational Service District (ESD) shows this past spring.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal will host the event.

“Every spring we feature incredible student artwork,” he said in a press release. “It’s a great reminder that creativity and imagination must be harvested. That is why arts education is so important. Art gives students a way to explore and express their ideas and emotions, which is crucial in a well-rounded education.”

Eight individuals and organizations will choose state winners and honorable mention recipients:

  • Superintendent Chris Reykdal,
  • Governor Jay Inslee,
  • OSPI staff,
  • Washington Art Education Association (WAEA) (co-sponsor of the Art Show),
  • State Board of Education (SBE),
  • Professional Educators Standards Board (PESB),
  • Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA),
  • Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA), and
  • Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP).

The groups above will pay artists $200 each to purchase their award-winning artwork for the organizations’ permanent collections. A panel of 16 judges selected another set of awards, six Judges’ Choice Awards. The artists who win those awards will also receive $200 each, and their artwork will be kept in OSPI’s permanent collection.

State grant awarded

On May 9, the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) awarded $35,000 to OSPI to support the Washington State Teaching Artist Training Lab. The Lab is a seven-month professional development program that explores how teaching artists can bring their artistry to classrooms, and how they can create a learning environment that allows students to experience that art form firsthand.

The 2018-2019 Lab will be the eighth year of the statewide project, and the sixth year with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) at the helm, working in close partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission. As many as 32 teaching artists will be able to participate.

Art Show State Winners

  • Elizabeth Gushtyuk, “Sleep” | Superintendent’s Award Prairie High School (Teacher: Kristopher Chrisopulos), ESD 112
  • Lauren Rasmussen, “Blueberries” | Governor’s Choice Award Anacortes High School (Teacher: Carl Dellutri), ESD 189
  • Lucia Beck, “Brother” | Judges’ Choice Award Ellensburg High School (Teacher: Darrin Walter), ESD 105
  • Kaitlyn Williams, “Free Falling” | WASA Award Richland High School (Teacher: Shawn Murphy), ESD 123
  • Valentina Guerra, “By the Ocean” | Judges’ Choice Award Pasco High School (Teacher: Randi Cruzen), ESD 123
  • Johnathen Jacobsen, “Sun” | WSSDA Award Cheney High School (Teacher: Rebecca Dempsey, ESD 101
  • Jared Van Hoof, “Black Figured Maple” | Judges’ Choice Award Toledo High School (Teacher: Ronnie Gaul), ESD 113
  • Tara McBride, “Anti Worri” | PESB Award Wenatchee High School (Teacher: Steve Priest), ESD 171
  • Jessie Woldstad, “Grounded” | Judges’ Choice Award Liberty High School (Teacher: Anne Cooper), ESD 121
  • Marcia Kim, “Pike Place in a Flash” | AWSP Award Richland High School (Teacher: Connie Murphy), ESD 123
  • Keenan Avery-Carpenter, “Had to do it to Them” | Judges’ Choice Award Mt. Spokane High School (Teacher: Angelika Wilson-Wipp), ESD 101
  • Maisie Bowles, “Bowl of Life” | OSPI Staff Award Richland High School (Teacher: Robert McMinn), ESD 123
  • Meghan Obernberger, “First Tide” | Judges’ Choice Award Issaquah High School (Teacher: Mark Moody), ESD 121
  • Kaitlyn Williams, “A Light from Within” | SBE Award Richland High School (Teacher: Shawn Murphy), ESD 123
  • Victoria Sepulveda, “Girl on Violin” | WAEA Tribute Award* Shorecrest High School (Teacher: Laura King), ESD 121

Art Show Honorable Mention Award recipients

  • Emily Ellwein, “Pooh Bear” | Honorable Mention Award Hanford High School (Teacher: Kelley Muntean), ESD 123
  • Gianni Nguyen “Alluring Depths” | Honorable Mention Award Kingston High School (Teacher: James Andrews), ESD 114
  • Atilegna Perez, “Bam Bye” | Honorable Mention Award Wenatchee High School (Teacher: Russ Rummler), ESD 171
  • Seth Fish, “Panning” | Honorable Mention Award Rogers High School (Teacher: Pamela Sarell), ESD 121
  • Mary Donaldson, “Ocean” | Honorable Mention Award Olympia High School (Teacher: Joshua Everson), ESD 113
  • Giselle Garcia, “A Lonely Egg” | Honorable Mention Award Bridgeport High School (Teacher: Brad Skiff), ESD 171
  • Angelica Grebyonkin, “Mercy” | Honorable Mention Award Evergreen High School (Teacher: Justin Donahue), ESD 112
  • Kennith Arnold, “History Brush” | Honorable Mention Award White Pass High School (Teacher: Laurie Judd), ESD 113