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2009 Entries: 1,456

Drawing: 411
Electronic Media: 152
Mixed Media: 249
Painting: 158
Photography: 336
Sculpture: 150

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The Prizes!

Grand Prize: $5,000
Second Place: $2,500
Third Place: $1,500
Fourth Place: $1,000
Fifth Place: $500
6th thru 10th: $250

About the Visual Arts Contest...

The annual Culture Shapers Visual Arts Contest enables student artists to compete for nearly $70,000 in cash prizes in six categories... drawing, painting, electronic media, mixed media, photography and sculpture. The contest takes place in the Fall, and is open to all High School Students in Harris, Waller, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

Students receive a commemorative t-shirt with their entry fee of $20. Entry forms will be e-mailed to the teacher after online registration, and parents, students or teachers deliver and pickup the entries at the drop-off location.

Each year, the Culture Shapers Volunteer Staff receive about 1,500 entries. Jurying will take place in November. The top ten finalists in each category will be invited to an elegant awards ceremony in December, where the winners will be finally announced before a live audience.

About the Culture Shapers Jurying Process...

Culture Shapers jurors are a combination of educators and professionals, who come highly recommended to us by other notable organizations, such as the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), as well as others. Many of our jurors have experience both in and out of the classroom, which gives them a unique and valuable perspective on evaluating student artwork. Click here to read more about the Culture Shapers jurying process.

2009 Mixed Media Winners

Entries in which two or more media are combined in a single two-dimensional entry. Collage is included.

Top 10...

Grand Prize: $5,000
Life's Quest
Anda Brown
Clear Creek HS
Clear Creek ISD
Teacher: Suzanne Lienhart

2nd Place: $2,500
A Brief Moment
Ju Han
Cinco Ranch HS
Katy ISD
Teacher: Christie Skinner

3rd Place: $1,500
Controlled
Elissa Weaver
Brazowood HS
Brazosport ISD
Teacher: Connie Middleton

4th Place: $1,000
Where We Went
Katie Poeter
The John Cooper School
Private
Teacher: Bob Mosier

5th Place: $500
Unveiled Beauty
Lana Redman
Seven Lakes HS
Katy ISD
Teacher: Angela Gasser

6th Place: $250
Maria Maria
Camila Ruiz
Cypress Woods HS
Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Charlotte Stuart

7th Place: $250
Life in Colour
Jaclyn Worbets
Memorial HS
Spring Branch ISD
Teacher: Cathy Bottoms

8th Place: $250
Caught
Pavlo Chubinskiy
Hastings HS
Alief ISD
Teacher: Teresa Kenefic

9th Place: $250
The Waker
Jennifer Esmond
Spring HS
Spring ISD
Teacher: Myrtie Porter

10th Place: $250
Yin and Yang
Lauren Menezes
Seven Lakes HS
Katy ISD
Teacher: Kimberly Glasgow

Honorable Mention...


Literary Dream
Amy Brackney
Cypress Woods HS
Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Charlotte Stuart


Pantheon Falls
McKenzie Grundstrom
Katy HS
Katy ISD
Teacher: Laura Williams


The Times
Siobhan Murphy
The John Cooper School
Private
Teacher: Jayla Ash Davis


The Twist
Ratrie Savitri
Clements HS
Fort Bend ISD
Teacher: Donna Reedy


Elusive Beauty
Rachel Wingard
Clements HS
Fort Bend ISD
Teacher: Donna Reedy



About the Jurors...

MaryAnn Lucas is past President of many art organizations and has held numerous other positions in support of these organizations. Her studying has consisted of taking courses at formal educational institutions as well as specialized tutorial sessions with various experts.  Mary Ann is a firm believer that "practice is the best learning tool", and this has enabled her to become proficient in a variety of medium. For several years she has conducted workshops, judged art exhibitions and given demonstrations of her art techniques in Houston and surrounding towns. She also donates numerous pieces of her work each year to various worthwhile charity auctions. She has participated in numerous art festivals over the years. Her work has made its way to various states across this country and Europe. Her philosophy in art and life is: The only failure is not to try.

Peggy Sexton is a mixed media fiber artist, concentrating in surface design. Her work focuses on dimension and contradiction using unlikely materials juxtaposed with hand dyed silks and delicate thread work. Sexton’s award winning art cloth, collage, and sculpture pieces have been exhibited in galleries through out the United States. Among these are Gallery Mendocino Collage, Ukiah, CA, The Art Station Gallery, Stone Mountain, GA, The Archway Gallery, The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the International Quilt Festival, and the Jung Center, Houston, TX. Her commercial art career includes: graphic design in print and TV, and technical illustration. She has judged high school and adult exhibits.

Lisa Qualls is a Houston based artist who received her BFA from the University of Texas and continued her studies in Italy and New York.  She was a resident at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in mixed-media and was awarded a printmaking residency at the San Antonio Center for Art and Craft in 2009.  Her drawings and sculptures were exhibited at Project Row Houses, Koelsch gallery as well as other galleries regionally and nationally during 2009.  Her artwork is represented by Koelsch Gallery in Houston, TX.

Made Possible By...

...and generous donations from folks just like you, who are passionate about supporting high school student artists. We welcome your tax-deductible donation in any amount!

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