WH artists advance to state level

Advancing to state art competition are Kaitlin Sanson, Cory Terre, Colleen Hughes and Amber Gafford. Not pictured is Morgan Jamison.

Whitehouse High School Visual Art students recently competed at the Visual Art Scholastic Event Regional Competition. The competition is open to all students and this year's group had an outstanding showing, according to instructor Christine Killian. Advancing to state competition are Amber Gafford, Colleen Hughes, Morgan Jamison, Kaitlin Sanson and Cory Terre.

"Having five students qualify for state competition is incredible," said Killian, who also praised the entire team's efforts at regionals. "Congratulations to all of these visual artists on a fantastic showing. You have made Whitehouse proud yet again."

These state-qualifying students will travel to the University of Houston April 13-14 to compete against art students across Texas. All of the entries are exhibited and open for viewing after the jury process has been completed. This provides opportunities for students to view the works of other student artists and to see the vast talents and fresh ideas of other students their age.

Students in Art I, drawing, painting, and art history and sculpture classes traveled to Henderson High School to compete in the Region VII event. The works presented were in a variety of media including acrylics, pastels, graphite, photography, colored pencil, ink, and various sculpture media. The students were interviewed and certified; then professional TAEA jurors juried their artworks.

Scores ranged from I-IV, with IV being a Superior rating for exemplary work. Students who scored a IV qualified for the VASE Area Event, the next level of competition. Only 10 percent of each division then advances to the state competition.

After the jurying process, the artworks that qualify are sent to the state event, which is held annually during the second week of April at the University of Houston, Clear Lake. While the artworks are being juried, students will participate in professional workshops, lectures, slide presentations, demonstrations and outdoor sketching opportunities. The event is intended to provide a forum for art teachers and students to meet and to grow artistically and personally.

Whitehouse students showed well across the board.

In Lisa Kendall's classes, students earning a III Excellent rating were: Courtney Musgrove and Danielle Symonds, Christina Kennemer and Adriana Garza.

Earning a IV Superior rating were: Katherine Carver in photography; Nicola Schneider, Emily Phillips, Adriana Garza, Jeremy Johnston and Amber Gafford; all in painting; and Molly Carrington and Jessica Root, sculpture.

In Mrs. Killian's classes, those earning a III Excellent rating were: Jordan Cogburn, Jennifer Motes, Salomon Ortiz and Amanda Robinson, who all entered two pieces in the competition and both pieces earned a III. Also earning a III were Kayla Zelaya and Blake Hillier.

Earning a IV Superior rating were: Morgan Jamison in photography, Colleen Hughes in photography, Ashley Helsel in painting, Cory Terre in graphite drawing, Courtney Musgrove in photography, Tracey Martin in pastels, Casey Booth in drawing, Jon Harvell in graphite drawing, Amber Gafford in pastels.

Also scoring a IV on both pieces entered was Kaitlin Sanson.