By SANDRA ANNONIO / Community Columnist

Congratulations to Hoover High School Senior Byron Arroyo for his 3d Design, Cyborg, for being selected “Best In Show” for the 2016 Statewide High School Art Exhibit sponsored by the Shelby County Arts Council and the UAB Department of Art and Art History.

The winners for this year’s competition were announced during the opening reception and College Preview Day on Sunday, April 10 at the Shelby County Arts Council Gallery.

Juror Lauren Lake, Chair of the UAB Department of Art and Art History, was “very impressed with the quality of the works from (across) the state.”

Close to 250 works of art were submitted for this year’s art competition.

Her task of narrowing down the artwork and selecting the “Best Of” in each category was very difficult.

Winners in each category:

•Byron Arroyo, 12^th grade, Hoover High School – Best of Show and Best of 3d Design

•Megan Naylor, 10^th Grade, Clay-Chalkville High School – Best of Drawing, “Wild Raw Emotions”

•Jenesye King, 10th grade, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Best of Mixed Media, “Americanized”

•Emily Kent, 11th grade, Saint James School, Best of Painting, “Gastonburg”

•Katie Mosley, 11th Grade, Hoover High School, Best of Photography, “Untitled”

 

Receiving Honorable Mentions for their artwork:

•Laura Alston, 12^th grade, Spain Park High School – Mixed Media

•Joshua Barnes, 11^th grade, Alabama School of Fine Arts – Mixed Media

•Derek Cebrian, 11^th grade, Hoover High School – Drawing

•Jordan Clayton, 10^th grade, Booker T. Washington Magnet School – Photography

•Sydney Harrington, 12^th grade, Oak Mountain High School – Painting

•Daniel Hernandez, 12^th grade, Hewitt-Trussville High School – Mixed Media

•Caleb Griffin, 12^th grade, Booker T Washington Magnet School – Photography

•Amelia Reardon, 11^th Grade, Oak Mountain High School – Mixed Media

 

The Shelby County Arts Council hosts this gallery exhibit as an educational opportunity for high school students.

The process of entering a juried show can be daunting for young artists.

This exhibit is designed to teach students how to photograph their art for submission, complete the entry process and prepare their work for public display.

SCAC Executive Director Bruce Andrews stresses, “How you present your visual artwork is as important, if not more important, than your skills as an artist.”

The gallery exhibit will be on display from April 10 to April 29 at the Shelby County Arts Council Gallery located at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana.

Gallery Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.