Grades K-5 were eligible to participate, and students from eight public schools and three Christian schools participated, submitting a total of 130 works of art that ranged in style and modality.
While each grade was judged separately for first, second and third place winners, the overall winners of the competition were also determined at an event on March 24 at Lilburn City Hall. The 2019 Spring Art Show was held from 1 to 3 p.m., allowing the judges time to carefully appraise each work.
The $25 cash prize and a Best in Show – First Place Ribbon were awarded to Leah Ermias, a fifth grader who attends Arcado Elementary School. Club President Judy Nash and other committee members visited Leah at Arcado the next week to deliver the prizes. In addition, Leah’s work will be showcased in the children’s section of the Lilburn Library until the end of the year.
Other students the LWC recognized include Owen Harris, a fifth-grader at Providence Christian School who received the second-place prize overall, and Olivia Swanegan, a fourth-grade student at St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School, who was recognized with the Third Place Best in Show Ribbon.
“The talent expressed by these young students was simply amazing, “said Brenda Dana who is in charge of the Art Program for 2019. Determining the winners was no easy task for the group of judges which included Jennifer Cardinelli, Joel Williams, Jean Baldwin, and Jan Watford, all of whom are art professionals from the Lilburn Art Alliance. These representatives donated two hours of their time to review the students’ work.
While it was the first event of the year for the LWC Art Committee, the Art Show was well-attended with over 350 visitors who came to view the work displayed on easels. Many also came to support the participating students from each of the schools: Arcado, Camp Creek, R. D. Head, Hopkins, Knight, Lilburn, Minor, and Mountain Park as well as Parkview Christian, Providence Christian and St. John Neumann.
Encouraging artistic expression through member and youth art contests, LWC’s Art Department aims to raise public awareness on the importance of arts education. Their next event will be the Scholarship and Public Recognition reception at their general meeting at Cavalry Baptist Church on May 2nd. The event will begin at 7 p.m., and Leah and her art teacher at Arcado, Roblin Finlayson, are invited to attend.
Adding to the excitement, Mayor Crist has declared March “Youth Art Month in Lilburn” and will be in attendance at the May meeting.
The LWC also supports various performing arts groups in the community and provides volunteer opportunities and activities at the Hudgens Center for the Arts. Learn more at https://www.lilburnwomansclub.org/art-program.