Coast Episcopal School is pleased to announce the participating artists and award winners of the Gail Keenan Art Center 2022 High School Art Exhibition.
The exhibit, part of the Children in the Arts program at Coast Episcopal School, was on display in February and is an integral piece of the Gail Keenan Art Center’s mission to help inspire young artists in our community.
The 2021-2022 Children in the Arts program is sponsored by Hancock Whitney. Thank you for joining us in this mission to encourage the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s next generation of artists.
Participants from public, private, parochial, and homeschooled high school students in 9th through 12th grades who live in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties were invited to participate in the Gail Keenan Art Center’s annual High School Art Exhibition this spring. Students were nominated by a classroom teacher or adult representative, such as a homeschool parent or after school art instructor.
PARTICIPATING NOMINATED ARTISTS
Melanie Bell, Harrison Central High School
Nina Calcote, West Harrison High School
Gus Breisacher, Saint Stanislaus
Clayton Bryan, Saint Stanislaus
Sydney Burrell, Our Lady Academy
Dustin Bui, Harrison Central High School
Nina Calcote, West Harrison High School
Evan Drye, Saint Stanislaus
Ashley Hanson, Harrison Central High School
Carmen Goodin, West Harrison High School
Allie Kaiser, West Harrison High School
Alexandra Ladner, West Harrison High School
Laodicea “LJ” Leggett, Harrison Central High School
Haylee Maddox, West Harrison High School
Lane Trosclair, West Harrison High School
Claire Whitney, Our Lady Academy
Claire Wojtowicz, Our Lady Academy
This year’s exhibition was juried by Stacey Johnson Hardy. Mrs. Hardy is the art teacher at Coast Episcopal School and a ceramic artist. She holds an MFA in ceramic sculpture from the University of Georgia and a BFA from Loyola University. She is a two-time recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission artist fellowship and was awarded the 2020 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Visual Artist award.
Mrs. Hardy’s comments on the award winners are included below. Guests at the show’s opening reception on Feb. 6 voted for a “People’s Choice” award winner, who is also listed below.
AWARD WINNERS
FIRST PLACE
Lane Trosclair, Midsection of a Young Man’s Mind, watercolor, ink, graphite on paper.
Eleventh Grade
West Harrison High School, Gulfport, MS
Judge’s Comments: “This student demonstrates terrific versatility in different mediums and the subject matter is complex and contemporary.”
SECOND PLACE
Evan Drye, Palladium Rising, stoneware ceramic.
Twelfth Grade
Saint Stanislaus, Bay St. Louis, MS
Judge’s Comments: “Love the repetition of circles from top to bottom. Great glaze application and craftsmanship.”
THIRD PLACE
Claire Wojtowicz, Self Portrait, watercolor, graphite and pen on paper.
Tenth Grade
Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis, MS
Judge’s Comments: “Beautiful blending of watercolors and an intriguing composition.”
HONORABLE MENTION
Sydney Burrell, Self Portrait in Colored Pencil, mixed media, graphite, colored pencil.
Twelfth Grade
Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis, MS
Judge’s Comments: “Soft, delicate lines and beautiful use of negative space. This is a tender and gracefully rendered self portrait.”
HONORABLE MENTION
Nina Calcote, Center of the Ring, mixed media/fabric.
Twelfth Grade
West Harrison High School, Gulfport, MS
Judge’s Comments: “This student submitted an exceptionally unique and fun textile piece. I love the attention to detail and bravery to think outside the box.”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Gus Breisacher, Emergence, stoneware ceramic.
Twelfth Grade
Saint Stanislaus, Bay St. Louis, MS
