By Brett Fisher
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The top three finalists in four categories at the 2015-16 CHS Reflections Art Contest. -
Music Composition finalists Ethan Lopes (left), Chandler Blueberg and Carlos Montejano. -
Literature finalists Kaylee Gordon (left) and Darby Griffin. Not pictured: Nick Rosen. -
Photography finalist Kathryn Liemandt with her winning entry. -
Photography finalist Sydnie Schuller with her second and third place entries. -
Visual Arts finalist Annette Avila with her winning entry entitled “Mateo.” -
Visual Arts finalist Sharline Villeda with her second place entry entitled “Puzzles Become the Idea.” -
Visual Arts finalist Ryan Tomita with his third place entry entitled “An Open Mind.”
The top three places by category in Carson High School’s annual Reflections Art Contest have been named, and their artwork entered into state competition in Las Vegas, Carson High School Parent Teacher Student Association’s Reflections co-Chair LeAnn Saarem said.
In the visual arts category, CHS junior Annette Avila claimed first place with her three-dimensional wood sculpture titled “Mateo.” Runner-up was junior Sharline Villeda with her puzzle piece titled “Puzzles Become the Idea.” And visual arts honorable mention was awarded to junior Ryan Tomita for his three-dimensional wood box piece titled “An Open Mind.”
CHS junior Kathryn Liemandt won first place in photography with her entry depicting Hamlet’s Ophelia character. Junior Sydnie Schuller took both second and third place for her respective entries: the oceans and the moon in hand, and touching the light.
CHS students also entered music composition scores and literature pieces.
Carlos Montejano, a CHS sophomore, won first place in the music composition category, while junior Chandler Blueberg was runner-up with her musical piece. Senior Ethan Lopes received honorable mention in this category.
Musical composition entries were also performed to music using vocals, instruments or computer-generated digital programs, Saarem noted.
For literature, CHS junior Nick Rosen claimed first place, followed by junior Darby Griffin in second place, and junior Kaylee Gordon as honorable mention. These contestants wrote and submitted essays to be judged.
A cash prize of $50 was awarded to the first place finishers in each category while second place contestants received a $25 cash prize.
Honorable mentions were not eligible for cash prizes, Saarem said, but their entries did qualify for the Nevada state PTA Reflections contest held in Las Vegas, where they will have a chance to qualify for the national event.
Saarem, current CHS PTSA president, said this year’s Reflections Art Contest attracted right around 300 entries, the most she has seen in the years she has coordinated the event.
“This is the largest contest to date,” she said. “We’ve never had a turn-out like this.”
Saarem credits increased student participation this year in part to the PTSA’s decision to involve local Carson City artists in the judging process.
“A whole lot of our focus is improved community participation,” she said. “And that’s really a school and district-wide objective.”
Saarem said she hopes this year’s turn-out will bode well for next year and in the years to come. Students seem to feel more encouraged to engage in the arts when they know their community supports them, Saarem said, and that is an important part of growing interest in the arts beyond this level.
The local placers will have their entries mailed to Las Vegas this week for consideration in the statewide contest. Winners for Nevada Reflections are typically announced in March.
