Alamance-Burlington Gibbons Students Win Scholastic Art Awards, Exhibit at ECU

Alamance-Burlington School System celebrated four students whose artwork was displayed at East Carolina University after winning awards, but a Cghsnc report names seven Gibbons students who “recently earned Scholastic Art Awards” for the eastern region that covers 55 counties. The Cghsnc list includes Emma Aldredge ’24, Ava Astilla ’23, Mei Cheng ’24, Sarah Goodwin ’24, Martha Nichols ’24, Reagan Tomczak ’24 and Helena Torrey ’23.

Cghsnc says the seven students’ work is eligible for exhibition at East Carolina University’s School of Art and Design. The article’s Silver Key table explicitly maps several students to titled works: Ava Astilla, “Disconnected Classroom” and “Unzipped”; Sarah Goodwin, “surgical cacophobia”; Martha Nichols, “Renaissance”; Helena Torrey, “Speechless,” “Break Through” and “The Movement.” Cghsnc’s Gold Key fragment lists some of the same titles but assigns “Break Through” only to Helena Torrey, creating ambiguity about final Gold versus Silver distinctions.

East Carolina University’s Gray Gallery currently displays about 165 pieces that received Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, part of a regional program that drew about 1,200 entries from 630 students. ECU reports that 268 pieces by 198 students received awards and that approximately 165 top Gold or Silver Key works are on display. Daniel Kariko, professor of photography and assistant director of ECU’s School of Art and Design, said, “It is a very selective exhibition,” and added, “We would love for visitors to see the breadth of young talent from eastern and central North Carolina. These are very talented young people who are creating very mature artwork.” ECU’s School of Art and Design serves as the regional affiliate for the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and is managing jurying and the awards ceremony.

ECU will host student workshops 10 a.m. to noon, tours 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a reception noon to 2 p.m., and an awards ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in Speight Auditorium, Room 1220, Jenkins Fine Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 25. The reception and additional prize winners were also announced: Autumn Standbridge received the Friends of Joyner Library Purchase Award for “The Sisters,” which PirateMedia1 describes as a multicolored woven image of two fawns; Standbridge said, “The piece was inspired by my older sister and just the way our relationship has morphed throughout our lives. She has always been this protective force that stands in front of me, and she continues to be that for me.” Haley McElroy won the College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Merit Award for a sculpture of two women titled “ What The F, -, F, - This”; McElroy said, “Sometimes when you make work that's more visceral or seems uncomfortable, you tend to assume that you're not going to get it because it's not deemed beautiful like in appearance wise or in aesthetics.” Paul Edwards received the Director’s Award for “Weight,” and Tansy O’Bryant won the School of Art and Design Award for “Who Are You Talking To?” PirateMedia1 notes that those pieces are in the Janice Hardison Faulkner Gallery inside Joyner Library and that “the art awarded at the exhibit will be available for viewing through Feb. 28.”

Local teacher Windy Lampson, who earned dual degrees in Studio Art and Art Education and a master’s of fine arts in painting from ECU, said, “Lampson never really considered a career in teaching – it was always ‘a second option,’ she says, but is quick to add she wouldn’t change a thing.” Lampson, who teaches while raising sons Noah and Miles (both ABSS students), added, “As a kid I was kind of into everything. I drew a lot, and that kind of helped me focus in class.” Lampson’s students regularly compete in juried contests; she said, “Then, we have one at our school every year,” and Southeast High School will hold a juried exhibition on May 22 from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with teachers from Williams and Graham volunteering to jury the show.

As ECU hosts its third year of the regional Scholastic exhibition and the Jenkins Fine Arts Center events proceed on Feb. 25, the public can view roughly 165 award-winning works in Gray Gallery now through Feb. 28 while local accounts differ on whether ABSS intended to highlight four or seven Gibbons students among those honored; an official ECU or Scholastic listing will confirm each student’s final award level.