Arts Foundation presents awards to students at exhibit
The Geneva Lake Arts Foundation had its annual Student Art Awards presentation at the opening reception of the exhibition on May 1 at the foundation’s gallery at 647 Main Street in Lake Geneva.
Each year, art students representing three area high schools and participants in Geneva Lake Arts Foundation classes are asked to participate in an exhibition of student artwork, sponsored by the foundation, during May. The exhibit will be on display at the gallery until May 31 and is open to the public. Many of the art pieces are available for purchase.
This year, in addition to the annual gift of $500 from the Louis Mergener family and three awards of $750, $250 and $250 from the Neal Heffernan Foundation, presented by the Lake Geneva Rotary, the Martin Smith Memorial Award for Creative Work of $500 was awarded from the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation in memory of Martin Smith, husband of Carol Smith, past president of the Geneva Lake Art Association. The foundation also presented the GLAF Award for Young Emerging Artist for $500 and five GLAF Recognition Awards of $100 each.
The Walworth County Arts Council also gave a scholarship of $1,000.
This year’s winners are:
Best of Show
- Neal Heffernan $750 award – Kinzie Millar, of Big Foot High School, for her charcoal drawing “Zebra.”
Young Emerging Artist
- Michael Mack, of Badger High School, for his oil painting – “Portrait of a Twin.”
Louis Mergener Award for Outstanding Work
- Morgan Kraemer, of Badger High School, for her pottery piece “Shinto Teapot.”
Martin Smith Memorial Award for Creative Work
- Caitlin Sternberg, of Williams Bay High School, for her monoprint – “People of the World.”
Neal Heffernan Merit Awards
- Winthrop Racette, of Big Foot High School, for his pottery – “Bowl 1;”
- Brendan Kelly, of Big Foot High School, for his pottery – “Large Bowl.”
GLAF Recognition Awards
- Julia Gilstrap, of Big Foot High School, for her charcoal drawing – “Charcoal;”
- Clara Gerdes, of Big Foot High School, for her digital photo – “Solarized Bowing;”
- Kalen Gillingham, of Big Foot High School, for “Flourish” and oil painting;
- Lucy Sponholz, of Williamd Bay High School, for her photograph – “Blackhawk;” and
- Cory Serrano, of Badger High School, for the pen-and-ink drawing – “Distraction from the Human Eye.”
The judge for this year’s event was Lucy Tonyan, artist and proprietor of The Studio in McHenry, Ill. Tonyan is co-author of the “Art Works” curriculum and chief executive officer of Creative Curricula Inc. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, and taught elementary art for 18 years at Montini Catholic School in McHenry, Ill. Her past work includes freelance graphic art and murals for both commercial and residential spaces.
Anyone who would like more information or to donate toward the awards that support this event, should call (262) 249-7988 and leave a message or email genevalakeartsfoundation@gmail.com
The Geneva Lake Arts Foundation Gallery is at 647 W. Main Street in the North Shore Pavilion. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 1 to 4 p.m. Friday from June through August.
