By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Regional – The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers recognizes teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and showcases their work to a national audience through The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Previous winners include Andy Warhol, photographer Richard Avedon, actors Robert Redford, Alan Arkin, and John Lithgow, and filmmaker Stan Brakhage, to name a few. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards continues to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the United States, and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. (http://www.artandwriting.org/)
Fay School eighth-graders Yoon Soo (Suzy) Shin (Northborough), Jhiseung Daniel Hahn (Westborough) and Alma Hong (Korea) joined teens from across the country in submitting artwork to The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. All three won award recognition and were invited to an award ceremony at John Hancock Hall in Boston March 3.
Yoon Soo (Suzy) Shin: Awarded the Silver Key and Gold Key Prizes for her achievement in the visual arts.
Jhiseung Daniel Hahn: Awarded Honorable Mention in drawing and Silver Key in drawing.
Alma Hong: Honorable Mention in drawing and Gold Key in painting.
The Gold Key is the highest level of achievement on the regional level. Approximately 7 to 10 percent of all regional submissions are recognized
with Gold Key Awards and all are considered for national-level recognition. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of all regional submissions are recognized with Silver Key Awards. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of all regional submissions receive Honorable Mention Awards which recognize artistic potential. The Gold Key and Silver Key winners were awarded small gold and silver badges.
For Daniel Hahn, who participated in the competition last year as well, winning both the Honorable Mention and the Silver Key were an honor. His drawing of dried water lilies, made with a base of graphite powder and then continuous use of charcoal to create the flowers and decorations, received Honorable Mention. A “silhouette-like drawing,” loosely based on the singer Freddie Mercury, received the Silver Key.
For Hahn, expressing himself through art is second nature.
“I wish to keep going with this competition every year. Art has always been a huge part of my life, so it was a great experience entering the competition this year as well as last year,” Hahn said.
All of the winning artwork was on display at the Transportation Building in Boston for the month of February.
To learn more about The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, visit http://www.artandwriting.org/.
Photos/courtesy of Jhiseung Daniel Hahn
