West High Art
Show
Winter 2003
Juror's Choice
Sculpture
Pottery
Honorable Mention - Kashawm Leifi
Jewelry
Honorable Mention - Garrett Benedict
Printmaking
1st Place - Emily Keplinger
Honorable Mention - Lizzie Linxweiler
Drawing
1st Place - Ren Wilhelmi
Photography
Mixed Media
Painting
Batik
Juror's Statement
It's always fun to see shows like this. There are a great
many creative minds out there in the world, and the young ones here
are a lively bunch. I know it's difficult to assign awards to artwork
in general, and my hope is that the artists who receive recognition
realize that it does not mean your work is better than anyone else's
and I also hope that the artists who don't get an award will ignore
the whole award-granting process and keep working at establishing
their very specific and immensely valuable points of view. As a
juror, I come at this process with my own biases for and against
certain things. Qulaities that I find valuable in works of art are
confidence, sureness of form, technical solidness, and a kind of
seriousness and total belief in one's own markmaking. Things i can't
get past are timidity, carelessness, a narrow range of values and
unintentional work. Just remember, whenever you get a juror, it's all
luck of the draw.
I chose the cup made by Lizze de Young as Juror's Choice
because of the many good qualities I see in it. It is compact,
completely deliberate, but not premeditated. The barrel of the
cylinder has been twisted and the interior of the form is not
circular any more but squared. It is a subtle gesture, but sure. The
weight is good, appropriate for its form. The glazes are bold, not
stronger than the form of the cup, but distinct from it. It's good to
see the exploration and adventurousness of an action get carried
through to a fine conclusion.