Sisters students honored in art exhibit

Twenty-four Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School students were honored Saturday at COCC for their entries in the 10th annual Scholastic Art Awards.

On display in the Pinckney Gallery, myriad works including sculpture, ceramics, prints, drawings, photographs and jewelry showcased the talents of emerging young Central Oregon artists.

The Scholastic Art Awards identify the nation's most accomplished young artists and allow them to showcase their talent through juried exhibits. The Scholastic Awards is a longstanding art awards program with over 13 million students having participated during its 86-year history. This year, approximately 30,000 students will be recognized, both regionally and nationally, for their excellence in the arts.

The Central Oregon juried competition reviewed 247 entries, and of those, 134 students were recognized for their creativity, technical skill and artistic vision. Sisters High School (SHS) art teacher Mike Baynes was honored with a $200 American Express gift awarded for the largest number of winning entrants in the competition. Baynes was also recognized for facilitating last year's entry of SHS student Tanner Smith's national-award-winning sculpture, which was exhibited at Carnegie Hall in 2009.

SHS students took a total of six Gold Key (first-place) awards, eight Silver Key (second-place) awards and eight third-place certificates of merit.

Junior Alex Yinger took home an American Vision Award for his sculpture "War." The American Vision Award is the judges' preference award and, along with the Gold Key Award winners, will advance to the national competition this spring.

Senior Cindy Steele was awarded a $500 COSAA college scholarship for her ceramics portfolio.

"Our success in the show is due in part to the diversity of mediums that we entered. We always seem to be able to show the depth of each student's talent," said Baynes.

Baynes thanked student teacher Jessie Carpenter for her help in preparing for this year's show, and he also shared heartfelt emotion for his students and their showing:

"I am so proud and honored to be teaching and working with these kids. We're pretty darn lucky to have students who are not only terrific artists, but exceptional students as well. They're not just talented in art, but in other aspects of life."

Baynes added, "This show, being the last of my teaching career in Sisters, was bittersweet. I absolutely love my job and these kids, and it will be difficult to leave this year."

The winning entries will be on display at Pinckney Gallery, in Pence Hall at COCC, through February 5.