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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.

2004 Photography Winners


Grand Prize: $5,000
"Hand in Water"
Dan Barney
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Fair HS
Teacher: Laurie Emery
SR


2nd Place: $2,500
"Trash"
Juli Charpentier
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Fair HS
Teacher: Earl Emery
JR


3rd Place: $1,500
"Addicts Dam"
Kelly Tarnowski
Cy-Fair ISD
Jersey Village HS
Teacher: Jason Neumann
SR


4th Place: $1,000
"The Walk of Hidden Shadows"
Christin Harvey
Deer Park ISD
Deer Park HS
Teacher: Denise Deutsch
SR


5th Place: $500
"Observed"
Jessica Higgins
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Falls HS
Teacher: Christina Ortiz
SR


6th Place: $100
"Reflections"
Jamal Banan
Spring Branch ISD
Memorial HS
Teacher: Marilyn Guerinot
F


7th Place: $100
"Man on Hill at Miller"
Blaine Hatten
Cy-Fair ISD
Jersey Village HS
Teacher: Jason Neumann
JR


8th Place: $100
"Just Thinking About It"
MonaLisa Lopez
Klein ISD
Klein Forest HS
Teacher: Susan McEwen
SR


9th Place: $100
"Grandeur"
Doug Adams
Spring Branch ISD
Memorial HS
Teacher: Cathy Bottoms
SR


10th Place: $100
"Woodland Trail"
Andrea Merola
Cy-Fair ISD
Jersey Village HS
Teacher: Jason Neumann
JR



Honorable Mention (in alphabetic order)


"Esperanza Nuestra"
Gloria Aguirre
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Falls HS
Teacher: Christina Ortiz
SR


"Serenity"
Patrick Arce
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Creek HS
Teacher: Lynda Crocker
SR


"A Glimpse of What Used to Be"
Kadi Layne Conner
Cy-Fair ISD
Jersey Village HS
Teacher: Joely Laughlin
S


"The Left"
Andrew Crowley
Klein ISD
Klein HS
Teacher: Dee Burgess
JR


"Traffic"
Fifile Nguyen
Deer Park ISD
Deer Park HS
Teacher: Denise Deutsch
SR


"Wonderland"
Priscilla Rodriguez
Spring ISD
Spring HS
Teacher: James Venable
SR


"My Life in Blue"
Allison Tarics
Spring Branch ISD
Memorial HS
Teacher: Cathleen May
JR


"Fantasy of Imagination"
Ashley Walker
Cy-Fair ISD
Cy-Falls HS
Teacher: Christina Ortiz
SR


"Whose Chair?"
Lindsay Whitehead
Katy ISD
Cinco Ranch HS
Teacher: Christie Skinner
SR


"Heart Strings"
Chere Womack
Deer Park ISD
Deer Park HS
Teacher: Denise Deutsch
JR



About the Jurors...

Lynn Baldwin - Because of my background in professional commercial and medical scientific photography and my personal work, I can relate to the great variety of fine work in this program. I congratulate all entrants. I enjoyed the opportunity of viewing this work and as a result it has enhanced my appreciation of the art of photography.

Diane Griffin Gregory - My education and background are in the visual arts. Currently I am Administrative Director for Houston Center for Photography. I am learning to shoot and print my own work through continuing education at Rice University.

John "Gusty" Gustafson - My background and interest in art goes back farther than my photography; however, I've been involved with photography since about 1988. Some of the my photos have been published, but artistic substance has been my primary motivation.

Stuart Larson - Teaches Digital Photography and Graphic Design at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. In addition to teaching, he is a practicing fine art digital photographer living in the Houston area.


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!

More Info...