Nine art students and their art teachers from Hamilton County Schools were honored today for their creativity and artistic excellence as Hamilton Place Mall held its awards presentation in the mall’s annual art contest. Haley West, a senior at Ooltewah High School, and Jessica Arp, a seventh-grader at Loftis Middle School, were the first place winners in the group. The theme for this year’s contest was “Heroes do not always wear capes.” The student artists produced artwork featuring their heroes as the subject.
West won the high school division, and her work featured her art teacher Carrie Cook. She took a picture of her teacher painting on a piece of glass to give her the perspective she was looking to share. “I wanted to show my teacher from the canvas’ perspective because she has helped to paint me into the person I am today,” said West. “She has helped me to come a long way in the development of my art, so I thought why not use her my inspiration.”
“Haley has been in my art classes since ninth-grade, and since her Art 1 class as a freshman I could tell she had a special talent for portraits and drawing people,” said Carrie Cook, the art teacher at Ooltewah High School. “I was honored that she chose me for the subject of her artwork.”
Jessica Arp, from Loftis Middle, won the middle school division with her work titled “Heros Around Me.”
There were 107 pieces of artwork submitted in the contest this year with first-place, second-place, third-place, and honorable mention selected in elementary school, middle school and high school divisions. Barnes and Noble, the sponsor of the art contest, provides first-place winners with a $50 gift certificate, second-place a $35 gift certificate, third-place, $20, and honorable mention, $10.
Hamilton Place Mall will display the winning student artwork through the summer on the first floor of the mall in the commons area.
2019 Hamilton Place Art Contest Winners from Hamilton County Schools
High School (Grades 9-12)
First Place – Haley West, senior, Ooltewah High (Carrie Cook, Art Teacher)
Second Place – Nick Brooks, junior, Sale Creek Middle/High (Tim Smith, Art Teacher)
Third Place – Lubieanna Smith, junior, Hixson High (Katie Claiborne, Art Teacher)
Honorable Mention – Ashlie Hubbard, sophomore, Sale Creek Middle/High (Tim Smith, Art Teacher)
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
First Place – Jessica Arp, seventh-grade, Loftis Middle (Pam Hopkins, Art Teacher)
Second Place – Egypt Thomas, seventh-grade, Brown Middle (Rachel Starnes, Art Teacher)
Third Place – Alyssa McGhee, eighth-grade, Brown Middle (Rachel Starnes, Art Teacher)
Honorable Mention – Ava Riggs, sixth-grade, Loftis Middle (Pam Hopkins, Art Teacher)
Elementary (Grades K-5)
Second Place – Willow Green, fourth-grade, Brown Academy (Sandra Lehn, Art Teacher)
Honorable Mention – Beck Chandler, fourth-grade, Brown Academy (Sandra Lehn, Art Teacher)
Photos: Top – Haley West with her winning artwork and inspiration, teacher, Carrie Cook.