By Lisa Carolin
Some national art and photography accolades have recently been given to Chelsea High School students.
After being awarded a number of SE Michigan Regional Scholastic Art Awards earlier this year, CHS students have also been named recipients of National Scholastic Award Winners for 2018 from the Southeastern Michigan Region M1004.
They are: Olivia Maldonado, a CHS senior, who received a National Gold Medal in the painting category for her work titled “Olivia”, and two National Silver Award Medals, one for her painting “Yontae” and one for another painting “John”. Her piece “Olivia” will be displayed in New York City and then it will be displayed around the U.S. for the next two years.
Lilliana Imboden, also a CHS senior, received a National Silver Award in the Photography category for her work titled “Collide”.
CHS junior Julia van Reesema received a National Silver medal in the photography category for her work titled “Window”.
“We are so excited to have three students represented at the national level! said CHS Art Teacher Geo Rutherford. “It’s a first for Chelsea High School.”
Rutherford explained that Maldonado’s piece “A New God” was chosen from the 6,400 individual pieces submitted this year as one of the five “Best in Show” pieces, which is called the American Vision Award.
There were 263 portfolios submitted in the Southeastern region of Michigan, and 101 received Gold Key recognition.
“From the 101 portfolios, the judges pick seven Best in Show,” said Rutherford. “These seven are displayed at the front of the College of Creative Studies in a place of honor. Chelsea received two Best in Show portfolios this year: One for Olivia Maldonado’s oil painting portfolio called “Like Me” and one for Michael Govaere’s work called “Concealed Self”.
Maldonado made a second portfolio called “Onlooker” that received a gold key.
Rutherford credits the fact that Chelsea High School has a large art department for a relatively small school and two full time art teachers, herself and Laura Naar, for why students at CHS have the chance to develop their talents.
“Laura Naar has two very strong photography classes that students can take here at the high school,” said Rutherford. “It’s due to her amazing direction that we have two silver medals in photography this year. Our other opportunity for students is a studio class offered to all students. Olivia has taken this class multiple times which has given her the time she needed to create two portfolios in less than a year.”
Rutherford has a background in oil paint which is how Maldonado, who completed the painting she won a national award for in one day, was able to learn the technique.
Maldonado credits both Naar and Rutherford for their support and inspiration.
Congratulations to these students. Many thanks to Chelsea School District for their continued support of the arts and to our wonderful art teachers.