Over 125 students from La Porte County submitted art projects to the La Porte County Public Library Teen Art Competition. Students had the option to craft a sculpture, a painting or a landscape architect/playground design. Projects drew inspiration from Isamu Noguchi, one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century who made his start in La Porte. The theme for this year’s competition was “Summer Under the Stars”.
Judges selected three finalists who were awarded cash prizes, as well as ten Honorable Mention awards who were presented with the book The Noguchi Museum: A Portrait, generously donated by the Friends of Noguchi.
The following students won top prizes:
1st Place: Guadalupe Camacho - 9th Grader at La Porte High School
2nd Place: Gwen Hanell – 12th Grader at La Porte High School
3rd Place: Brittani Heath – 12th Grader at La Porte High School
Camacho won for her sculpture titled “Mother & Child”, which comprised tissue paper, plaster craft and cardboard.
“The red represents the blood and love the mother and child share,” Camacho wrote in her artist statement. “Slight bronze detail and green, grassy base to signify the grounding a mother has.”
Hanell’s sculpture “Furry Friend”, which won second place, was constructed with wooden reeds, gossamer, hot glue and string lights, representing an animal.
Heath’s sculpture, which received third place, was titled “Bath Time” and was constructed with wooden reeds, tissue paper, hot glue and rubber ducks.
“My class learned about Noguchi and his work one day, and I was inspired by how unique his lanterns were,” Heath wrote in her artist statement. “It was his spherical lanterns that reminded me of bubbles in a bathtub.”
The first-place prize was awarded $500; second place won $250; third place won $100, which was generously donated by the Friends of Noguchi.
The following students won Honorable Mentions for their work:
Nolan Bockhorst – 12th Grader at La Porte High School
Megan Carmickle – 18-year-old at Westville High School
Autumn Chappell – 15-year-old at Westville High School
Maddie Cole – 15-year-old at Westville High School
Emi Hannon – 17-year-old at Westville High School
Anastasia Joseph-Greenwade – 11th Grader at La Porte High School
Julia Kozub – 17-year-old at Westville High School
Eden McLean – 14-year-old at Westville High School
Amayah Parker – 17-year-old at South Central High School
Brooke Skalka – 16-year-old at Westville High School
Prizes were awarded at the Teen Artist Reception on Noguchi’s birthday last Friday, November 17 at the LPCPL Exchange.
Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres from Café Trilogy while viewing the variety of sculptures, dioramas and paintings lining the first floor of the Exchange.
Artwork from the three finalists is still on display at the Exchange and will be until the end of the week.