The 3rd annual Art Challenge & heART Show hosted by Clark Regional Medical Center promoted awareness of cardiac health through creative expression by our GRC Fine Arts Cohort art students.
The hospital works with GRC art teachers to collect student work with heart health themes to commemorate American Heart Month in February.
“Anytime we can showcase our students and their talents, it's magical,” said Superintendent Dustin Howard. “Our partnership with Clark Regional Medical Center continues to be vitally important as we unite to better our community through quality education and health awareness.”
Congratulations to Leif Sparks, who was chosen the winner for the second straight year and took home a $500 scholarship from CRMC.
With the student work on display in the hospital hallways, a reception was held to showcase the art and share information about heart health.
“In Clark County, we're all about the Portrait of a Learner, and one of the Portrait competencies is being an engaged citizen,” Mr. Howard said. “What better way to be an engaged citizen than to have an authentic art project that educates not just our school community, but the community at large about cardiac awareness and making sure we have a healthy heart. Sometimes there's no other better way than through artwork to communicate important messages.”
ALL ART SUBMITTED
Artist Statements (in order of art above):
Leif Sparks, 12th Grade, "The Protector," Winner
The human body is one of the key things that keeps our heart safe. Similarly, the beetle's elytra or "outer wings" protect their body. So what if those two thigs went hand in hand? In this piece, "The Protector," the elytra pose as the human body, protecting the heart. I used the Eastern Hercules Beetle, which is a beetle of Kentucky as my choice for this work.
Hannah Manley, 12th Grade, “The Journey”
My piece is made of book pages, music sheets, oil pastels, and acrylic paint. As a kid, I often went on hikes in the Gorge with my family. This fun activity has a special place in my heart so I decided it would be a perfect depiction for the “Heart of Kentucky.” In this piece, a person has just completed a hike in the Kentucky Wildlands. He stands and listens to the rushing water, swaying trees, and singing birds. His heart glows as he appreciates his efforts to find this beautiful location.
Skylar Jude, 12th Grade
I thought of two of the most prominent places in Kentucky and dedicated half the painting to them- With the Kentucky Derby on the left and mammoth cave on the right. I then surrounded the entire thing is grass and the statie flower Goldenrod. I painted the entire thing in acrylic going from the Derby, The Cave, the grass and lastly the flowers.
Belle Galloway, 11th Grade
Heart health is as essential to our well-being as water and sunlight is to a blooming flower. Just as a flower needs the right conditions to thrive, so do our hearts. When we nourish our hearts with healthy foods and exercise, they remain strong and vibrant, like a flower and bloom. I wanted to represent that with this painting and along with that, show how a well-tended heart can bring beauty and joy to its surroundings.
Autumn Hodge, 11th Grade, "The Heart of Kentucky"
When I began sketching for this art piece and brainstorming on what the heart of Kentucky means to me, I knew I wanted to incorporate the state's biggest and well-known factors. Iconic symbols that represent our state are the state flower, the golden rod, the state tree, the tulip tree, and the state bird, the robin. Other elements I wanted to include were images that remind me of my home state, such as the racehorse, and the beautiful fields spreading all over the hills of Kentucky. This painting is meaningful to me because it represents all of the things I love about my home.
Kelsie Minton, 12th Grade
My piece’s title is “The Big Blue Heart.” I used cardboard, glue, maps of Kentucky and paint to create my piece. I felt intrigued to go for a simple look by adding a plain background. But I wanted to show the beautiful road maps in Kentucky. The heart in the middle of the canvas represents the Big Blue nation’s huge heart for the Commonwealth.
Willow Fraley, 12th Grade
Inspiration - The inspiration was to do something simple and cartoony so that younger audiences can understand it more clearly like a cartoon poster in the earlier ages of cartoons. Materials - I drew it out on pencil first to scale it out and then I used acrylic paint.
Leo Schelle, 12th Grade
My inspiration was where I’m from and nature of Kentucky period i did anatomical heart with a landscape inside it. I wanted it to be something I could keep in my home with the aesthetic of my style. I used map pieces, eyeshadow, paint, and pieces of paper that mimic wallpaper. Mine was made to look like a painting in a haunted burnt home.
Mar’Sadie Harris, 10th Grade
I used watercolors for my background, paint markers for my details and color pencils for my flowers. My canvas is to celebrate Kentucky and to show my support for the heart of Kentucky.
Paige McCormack, 12th Grade
Just as flowers bloom, the beating heart grows and flourishes. For this piece I used pencil and paint markers.
Zed White, 11th Grade
My piece is called “The Beating Heart of Kentucky.” It shows a heart covered in Kentucky fabric suspended by chain. The chain allows the heart to “beat.” Fiber art has always been part of who I am and I wanted to make a piece that demonstrated that. The fabric is laid out in a quilt pattern.
Liam McPherson, 11th Grade
My idea I had for this artwork was to show something interesting to look at. Showing a person who can be presented in any way with little things. Show the balanced diet.
Emma Sovine, 9th Grade
I used acrylic paint to make my art. It is meant to show how your heart is affected by good food versus unhealthy food. Outside of the water is a bright sky with dragon fruit clouds, a citrus sun, and Kentucky's national fruit: blackberries, with the heart strong and healthy. Inside the water the heart is decayed and grey, surrounded by trash like Ale-8, pizza, and a lollipop.
Libby Taylor, 12th Grade
Media: Pencil, oil-based acrylic
My inspiration for my artwork was how horse racing has been a “heart” of Kentucky's for hundreds of years in so many ways. Areas of Kentucky have been heavily influenced by horse racing, creating an almost culture here in Kentucky. Between agricultural aspects, social networks, and economic dependence, this sport has been nothing short of important here in Kentucky. Truly holding a place in everyone's heart.
Philip Greer, 11th Grade
My art heart piece is based on Calvin Borel who won the 2009 Kentucky Derby with Mine That Bird at odds 50-1. The third biggest upset in Derby history. He showed to never give up even when the odds are against you to keep pushing forward even if you lose. Here is a good quote from Calvin Borel- “I'd rather have a bad day at the track than a good day off it, somewhere else."
Cara Riddle, 11th Grade, “The Appalachian Cryptid”
This piece was extremely difficult for me. Connecting the two prompts, “Kentucky," and “heart health” didn't connect with me until I thought about what would interest myself and not just the painting’s viewers. This is when I remembered Appalachia's very own cryptid, who we hold near and dear to our hearts... Bigfoot.
Liam Adkins, 12th Grade
My art piece depicts a human heart surrounded by goldenrod flowers. I was inspired by the design of the Kentucky State flag. The arrangement of a goldenrod mimics the way in which it surrounds the center of the flag. I used various line techniques in order to create my artwork. I used these techniques in order to create texture and values.
Hannah Lam, 10th Grade, “Good and Bad”
This is a freeform crochet piece full of all things good and bad for the heart. Whether it be smoking, drinking, eating fast food like Kentucky Fried Chicken or working out, playing sports, or eating fruits/veggies - it all contributes to the health of our hearts.
Jaylen Overbey, 11th Grade
I was inspired by the stained glass art you would find in churches all around Kentucky. I used acrylic paint to make this.
Zander Miller, 11th Grade
When creating this painting, I wanted to do something different and more unique than everyone else's. I wanted the horse and the heart to stand out more than the rest of the painting because in my mind, the first thing that comes to me when I think of the heart of Kentucky are horses and the Kentucky Derby. I wanted the heart of the horse to be the center of attention while the lines represent energy coming from a healthy heart, making everything else come alive.