CENTREVILLE — ArtScene 2024, held at both QACPS high schools during the same week on different nights, turned out to be the largest shows to date. There was a tremendous outpouring of creative talent at both high schools, with the events taking place on Tuesday, April 23rd at QACHS and then on Thursday, April 25th at KIHS. Artworks from all fourteen schools, spanning K through 12, were featured, with awards distributed by art teachers, professional judges, and school principals. Packed crowds witnessed well over 500 works of art on display, and easily over 1,000 attendees filled both student shows.
Artworks encompassed a wide range of mediums, including 2-D drawings, paintings on paper and canvas, mixed-media works, 3-D found object sculptures, printmaking, and ceramics. Students also engaged in live art creation in front of the audience, with activities ranging from hot wax paintings, printmaking and drawings happening at QACHS, with students gaining experience selling art at both ArtScene shows.Anne Marie Thomas, a major award winner from QACHS, even had a “manager” accompanying her to track sales!
At KIHS, students demonstrated pottery throwing on wheels, oil paintings were being completed, clothing was being customized live, and incredible visual journals were exhibited at both schools for the crowd to get a private glimpse into their creative process. Food trucks, a new addition this year at KIHS, also became a huge hit with the bustling crowds!
ArtScene has become ‘the brand’ for the arts in Queen Anne’s County since its inception in 2019, and this year showcased unprecedented local, state, and national recognitions of student artists at all levels. Record-breaking scholarships have flourished out of the National Art Honor Societies (NAHS) at both schools. Students at both QACHS and KIHS have collectively surpassed the million-dollar mark under the leadership of NAHS chapter sponsors Stephanie Zeiler at QACHS and Andrea Schulte at KIHS, with combined totals exceeding the three million-dollar mark.
Stephanie Zeiler addressed the tremendous crowd at ArtScene QACHS, emphasizing the significance of these achievements. “These sixteen seniors alone have been offered $1,909,020 worth of scholarships. These kids are some of the most well-rounded, amazing individuals I’ve had the pleasure of teaching.”
At ArtScene KIHS, Andrea Schulte echoed similar sentiments as the KIHS art department honored a record-breaking thirty student artists who won a total of sixty-three Scholastic Art Regional Awards, which is the largest number of Scholastic Awards KIHS students have earned to date. Many also earned Gold Keys, advancing to the national competition, with the possibility of earning a trip to Carnegie Hall for the national medalists ceremony.
Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, Michael Bell, commended the talented teens during his address to the crowd. “Andy Warhol, Amanda Gorman…these were Scholastic award-winning artists and poets when in high school. These students compete against one of the toughest Northeast Regions spanning from DC through New York City into Maine. I give our teachers and their students all the credit in the world for earning more and more awards each year.”
Both ArtScene shows had tremendous support from QACHS Principal John Schrecongost and KIHS Principal Dan Harding who took the time to take in all the artworks on display during the setup, and throughout the awards ceremonies, congratulating students and NAHS inductees.
Dr. Saelens, QACPS Superintendent of Schools, thought both shows were “simply amazing!”She and Dr. Kibler, newly appointed Assistant Superintendent of Schools, attended both shows to see all the incredible talent the students and teachers put out there on display for the public.
A huge thank you to all QACPS Visual Arts Teachers for their incredible work, and to all principals who came out to also support ArtScene shows, hand out awards alongside their art teachers, and celebrate all the creativity on display.
Click here to view highlights fromArtSceneQACHS
Click here to view highlights fromArtSceneKIHS
ArtSceneQACHS2024Award Recipients:
CES –Lucy Cvach, Grade 2,ArtTeacher: Jennifer Mariano
- Mrs. Farnell’s Principal’s Choice:Marcelo Torres, Grade 1
KES –Riley Roberson, Grade 5,ArtTeacher: Garnette Hines
- Mrs. Carey’s Principal’s Choice:Lily Mayer, Grade 5
SES –River Armiger, Grade 4,ArtTeacher: Annie Agee
- Mrs. McNeil’s Principal’s Choice:Rowan Joiner, Grade 1
CHES –Oliver Middleton, Kindergarten,ArtTeacher: Cassie Hosler
- Mrs. Walbert’s Principal’s Choice:Brice Calder, Grade 3
CMS – ArtTeacher: Jackie Jablecki
Brooklyn Phillips, Grade 6
- Ms. Kenna’s Principal’s Choice:Sophia Thiess, Grade 6
Layla Rada, Grade 7
- Ms. Kenna’s Principal’s Choice:Graham Stanton, Grade 7
Evelyn Orrison, Grade 8
SMS –ArtTeacher: Vicki Bockmiller
Desmond Sanchez Whiteley, Grade 5
Abdy De Leon Ramirez, Grade 6
Anna Gray, Grade 7
Oliver Lahoda, Grade 8
- Mr. Watkin’s Principal’s Choice:Olivia Pierce, Grade 8
QACHS –ArtTeachers: Stephanie Zeiler (Dep’t Chair), Valerie Ortiz
“Best in Show 2-D”:Anne Marie Thomas, Grade 12
“Best in Show” 2-D Runner Up:Casey Johnson, Grade 11
Notable Narrative 2-D:Lilly Askew, Grade 9
Prestigious Portfolio 2-D:Anne Marie Thomas, Grade 12
Dynamic Use of Subject Matter:Iaera Kelley, Grade 10
Realism Rock Star:Emily Marvel, Grade 12
Amazing Abstract:Glendy Macario, Grade 10
Best Capture of Emotion:Sofia Vasquez, Grade 11
Commanding Clay Concept:Taylor Jones, Grade 10
Astounding Assemblage:ZuZu Kusmider, Grade 11
Master of Color:Ella Hines, Grade 9
Most Imaginative Use of Materials:Julia Reburn, Grade 12
Superior Symbolism:Dayce Chambers, Grade 12
Phenomenal Print:Julia Reburn, Grade 12
Mixed-Media Masterpiece:Keegan Cardoza, Grade 12
Best Emerging Artist:Elias Kehm, Grade 9
“Best is Show 3-D”:Melissa Candella, Grade 12
“Best of Show 3-D Runner Up”:Ewan O’Donnell, Grade 9
Prestigious Portfolio 3-D:Melissa Candella, Grade 12
Notable Narrative 3-D:Shawn Theiss, Grade 9
Creative Composition:Erin Baldwin, Grade 12
- Mr. Schrecongost’s Principal’s Choice:Jenna Schaner, Grade 12
ArtSceneKIHS2024Award Recipients:
KIES –Callahan Burkett, Grade 2,ArtTeacher: Allison Dorsey
- Mrs. Cornish’s Principal’s Choice:Dakota Garrison, Grade 1
BES –Addison Simpson, Grade 4,ArtTeacher: Candace Brush
- Ms. Welch’s Principal’s Choice:Stella Eaton, Grade 5
GES –Lucy Parks, Grade 5,ArtTeacher: Megan Spence
- Mrs. Tubman’s Principal’s Choice:Valentina Gurubatham, Grade 5
MES –Lily Minich, Grade 4,ArtTeacher: Shannon Francis
- Mrs. Mitten’s Principal’s Choice:Jade McConnell, Grade 5
MMS –ArtTeacher: Brittney Feeley
Luna Shores, Grade 6
Jessica Busch, Grade 7
Evelyn Wiedefeld, Grade 8
- Ms. Chamber’s Principal’s Choice:Yuna Matsui, Grade 8
STMS –ArtTeacher: Holly Schrader
Cooper Eisenberg, Grade 6
Makena Perillo, Grade 7
Daphne Taylor, Grade 8
- Dr. Schrecongost’s Principal’s Choice:Lorelei DeGour, Grade 8
KIHS –ArtTeachers: Andrea Schulte (Dep’t Chair), Laquel Nenno, Estelle Szczerba
“Best in Show”:Rain Diederichs, Grade 12 and Alexandra Harris, Grade 12
Perseverance Award:Dante Capone, Grade 12
Best Use of Color 2-D:Ember Irwin, Grade 12
Best Use of Color 3-D:Ashley Salko, Grade 11
Best Narrative 3-D:Lillian Clark, Grade 10
Best Narrative 2-D:Brianna Gonzalez Rauseo, Grade 12
Best Persuasive Artwork:Olivia Valenti, Grade 10
Most Improved 3-D Artist:Emma Reeder. Grade 12
Best Print:Jackie Barnett, Grade 11
Best Architectural Design:Alana Van Ornum, Grade 10
Best Architectural 2-D:Emily Alt, Grade 12
Best in 3-D Studio 1:Paige Simons, Grade 9
Best in 3-D Studio Art Honors 2:Gabrielle Bernhard. Grade 12
Best in 3-D Studio Art Honors 3:Emily Miller, Grade 12
Best Wheel Thrown:Scott Fuller, Grade 12
Best Surface Treatment:Jay Zimmerman, Grade 12
Most Involved Build:Georgia Hines, Grade 12
Best Use of Upcycled Material:Charlotte Burkhart, Grade 10
Heartfelt Media MashUp Blur or 2-D 3-D:Mark Monroe, Grade 11
Best Sculpture:Van Delp, Grade 11
Best Description of Nature:Darcy Bouchat, Grade 12
Most Clear AP Sustained Investigation 3-D:Peyton Huber, Grade 12
Best Abstract Portrait:Owen Redding, Grade 9
Best in 2-D Studio 1:Sara Miles, Grade 10
Best in Honors 2-D:Elsa LaVoie, Grade 11
Most Clear AP Sustained Investigation 2-D:Brooke Register, Grade 11
Best Visual Journal:Chelsea Beatty, Grade 12
Best Capture of Emotion:Kyla Loar, Grade 12
Best Use of Design:Jackson Powell, Grade 12
Best Depiction of Nature:Grace Hartlove, Grade 11
Best Observational Drawing:Olivia Miller, Grade 9
Best Semester 1:Ray Gibb, Grade 10
Best Semester 2:Erin Sedora, Grade 11
Mr. Fix It:Phillip Knapp, Grade 12
Outside Box:Dalton Trimble, Grade 11
Best in Fundamentals of Art:Sabrina Stafford, Grade 9
Rising Rookie (Freshman 2-D)Jennifer Kelly, Grade 9
Rising Rookie (Freshman 3-D)Jacob Reeder, Grade 9
Best Creative Expression:Abigail Morin, Grade 9
Best Use of Mixed Media:Lucia Zaklin, Grade 9
Top 2-D Judges Award:Chelsea Beatty, Grade 12
Top 2-D Judges Award:Emily Alt, Grade 12
Top 3-D Judges Award:Georgia Hines, Grade 12
Top 3-D Judges Award:Dante Capone, Grade 12
Most Unique Sculptural Element:Madelyn Muller, Grade 12
