by Renee Mizar
MAC Communications Coordinator
Twenty-six Clallam County students were recognized as award-winning artists at the Museum & Arts Center on Friday, March 1, as accolades were handed out at the 19th annual Sequim Arts Student Show.
More than 500 people visited the MAC Exhibit Center in Sequim during the First Friday artist reception to meet the nearly 70 middle and high school students from across the county featured in the show. A total of 31 awards were bestowed on students in the senior (grades 9-12) and junior (grades 6-8) divisions of the annual Sequim Arts-sponsored exhibit.
The night’s top awards of Best in Show went to Port Angeles High School senior Ashlyn Johnson for her senior division watercolor “Dancing in the Sunset” and Sequim Middle School sixth-grader Flora Walchenbach, who won the junior division award for her block print “Thunderbird’s Perch.”
Sequim students claimed the Sequim Arts President’s Award in both the senior and junior divisions, with awards going to Sequim High School senior Julie Miller and Sequim Middle School eighth-grader Linda Rogers. Sequim Arts also recognized two graduating seniors, Grace Trautman of Sequim High School and Aubrianna Howell of Port Angeles High School, with emerging artist awards.
Port Angeles High School junior Aaron Wright claimed the MAC Director’s Award for his “Bambi Eyes” photograph, while home-schooled seventh-grader Kira Maddox won the junior division for her pencil drawing “Hear My Thoughts.” Olympic Driftwood Sculptors also presented awards in both divisions, with top prizes going to Johnson for her clay work “Playing Broken Song” and Olympic Peninsula Academy eighth-grader Anna Potter for her pottery and metal “Bird Bath.”
The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society recognized four students with awards for bird-themed art, including first-place winner and Sequim High School junior Katherine Atkins. Likewise, the Dungeness River Audubon Center bestowed five prizes on nature-themed pieces, with first place awarded to Sequim High School junior Sarah Grace Necco. All nine award-winning pieces will be displayed at the Dungeness River Audubon Center during the 2013 Olympic Peninsula BirdFest from April 5-7.
To view the complete list of award winners and photos from the artist reception, visit the MAC website at www.macsequim.org and the Sequim Arts website at www.sequimarts.org.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award, which is sponsored by Judy Priest, is ongoing through the show’s closing on Friday, March 29. The MAC Exhibit Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
