Paintings, pottery and sculptures lined the walls of the Hot Shops Art Center for the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) Art Show last Friday, April 24, where 17 Gretna East students competed among 178 others from across the conference.
Junior Abigail Whitt won Best of 2-D, and seniors Amy Clarke and Emmett Parker received honorable mentions.
“I was really happy with the outcome and the awards that we got,” art teacher Keegan Kruse said. “Abigail’s win was well deserved because her art piece was absolutely beautiful.”
While many people knew the piece was well done, the win still came as a shock to the artist.
“When I walked over to my piece, I stood there admiring it, not thinking anything of it,” Whitt said. “Someone else had to point it out to me right below my drawing, it said ‘Best of 2-D.’ I was so surprised, I never imagined I could win, so it didn’t even occur to me to look.”
While at the show, Hot Shops also demonstrated wheel throwing, glass blowing and metal working to introduce students to more art forms.
“It was a super fun event, and it was really amazing to see so much beautiful art in one place,” senior Brooklyn Porter said. “My personal favorite was glassblowing. There were so many talented people there, and it was truly an honor to have been invited.”
The students enjoyed seeing the local talent.
“When we walked in, I was amazed by everyone’s art; it shocked me that students my age could make such creative and elaborate artworks,” senior Natalie Kraaz said. “Walking around the displays, I could tell just how hardworking the students were. Their time and effort did not go unnoticed.”
Sophomore Nicholas Hansen echoed Kraaz’s statement.
“It was awesome to see all of the amazing art and all the talent that everyone had there,” Hansen said. “I had a lot of fun, and I learned that everyone works and thinks differently, which makes every single art piece unique and special in its own way, which was super cool to see.”
