Awards presented at annual Juried Student Art Show at Leamington Arts Centre

For the 26th time, outstanding visual art from students around the county was recognized at an awards reception on Friday, April 5 at the Arts Centre in Leamington. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Leamington and the Kiwanis Club, a total of $2,000 was handed out in prize money to talented local artists.

Presented by the South Essex Arts Association, the month-long exhibit featured 444 entries by 243 students from 10 different county schools. Students put forth entries in one of eight categories: painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, mixed media, new media, printmaking and film.

Judges Andrea Niven and Scott Livingstone had the unenviable task of choosing the best of the best and based their decisions on the visual impact, creativity and technique present in each piece.

First-place winners included: Hiro Torres from Tecumseh Vista Academy-Secondary for painting, Felicia Vickery from Kingsville District Secondary School for drawing, Jandel Jr. Reyes from Cardinal Carter Catholic High School for sculpture, Carson Bildfel from Essex District High School for photography, Sarah Riddle from Tecumseh Vista Academy-Secondary for mixed media, Grace Prior of Sandwich Secondary School for new media, Shay Ryde of Leamington District Secondary School for printmaking, and Kale Ross of Essex District Secondary School for film.

The Future Artist Award — honouring the late Marg and Don Ross of Leamington — was won by Sienna Pepper of Tecumseh Vista Academy-Secondary, who will be attending the University of Windsor this fall to study visual arts.

The public is invited to the Leamington Arts Centre to cast their People’s Choice vote for their favourite student piece prior to the exhibit closing on April 20.