Berks youth win art awards
Exhibit runs through Feb. 13 in the Holleran Gallery
Yocum Institute for Arts Education announced the 2022 Annual Senior High School Juried Art Exhibit winners during the Opening Reception & Award Ceremony on Jan. 30. The exhibit in the Institute’s Holleran Gallery will run until Feb. 13.
Each year, the Yocum Institute invites Berks County aspiring young artists to submit their work for a juried exhibit to provide students an opportunity to present their original works of art to the public in a professional gallery setting as well as compete for cash prizes and tuition to Institute classes. The competition is open to all full-time Berks County senior high school students to submit original work in oil, watercolor, mixed media, acrylic paint, sculpture, and 3D art.
The exhibit was judged by illustrator and designer Amanda Lee Condict, the recipient of the Coggins Award which recognizes artists who embrace Jack Coggins’ values of creativity, innovation and service to the Yocum Institute and the community.
Condict, who studied at Kutztown University, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Empire State College, is the owner of a graphic design and illustration studio. She has illustrated for books, magazines and catalogs, t-shirt and textile designs and commissioned portraits and has shown her work at various local galleries, as well as a forensic sketch artist on an episode of “The Dead Files.” She serves on the Berks Art Alliance, Clay on Main, Berks Arts Council’s Roundtable, and as an administrator of the Sketching Workshop, an international organization of artists. She teaches in the fashion department at Albright College; operates Vincent van BYO, a painting party studio; and paints murals, mostly as community projects with area schools.
“I always love to see student work and this year’s High School Art Show was no exception,” said Condict in the release. “The work that was entered showcases some
of the most talented young artists in Berks County and their skills are impressive. Some of the portraits, in particular, blew me away. I had a difficult time narrowing down the choices for awards but finally decided on these works.”
The 2022 Coggins Award and $250 was presented to Wilson 10th grader Mary Brubaker for her charcoal portrait.
“Mary Brubaker’s charcoal portrait had everything I look for when judging: compelling subject matter, technical proficiency, excellent composition, and good use of many design principles, most notably contrast,” said Condict.
1st Place and $125 was awarded to Wilson 11th grader Madalyn Wilcynski.
“Madalyn Wilcynski’s acrylic painting of gummy bears is a hyper-realistic triumph. She has even managed to imbue the candy with its trademark translucency, not an easy feat,” said Condict.
2nd Place and $100 went to Tulpehocken 12th grader Angelle Rescigno for her portrait.
“Angelie Rescigno has mastered graphite in her photorealistic rendering especially of the model’s clothing and the red banner flowing through the background adds a strong graphic element,” said Condict.
3rd Place and $75 was awarded to Exeter 12th grader Brittany Troung for her Gouche piece called “Nka Trang.”
“Brittany Truong’s evocative seascape displays her mastery of brushwork and understanding of color,” said Condict.
In addition to the cash prize, award winners in the top categories also receive a full scholarship to a class of their choice.
The Berks Art Alliance Award was presented to Exeter 12th grader Joanna Knepper for her “Lost Her Marbles.”
The Community Award was presented to Governor Mifflin 10th grader Kenlee Gollub.
“Kenlee Gollub’s mixed media collage had many layers of meaning, a thoughtprovoking mix of modern mass media personalities and vintage botanical and scientific ephemera,” said Condict.
The Fred and Deb Gurman Award went to Daniel Boone 12th grader Payton Fritz for her acrylic painting “Yellow Keys.”
Honorable Mention Awards were presented for Exeter 12th grader Olivia Biancone’s Etching/Pen/Ink, Wilson 11th grader Jinyan Chen’s charcoal art, Wyomissing 10th grader Reese Dauber’s Oil Pastels, Daniel Boone 10th grader Mia Davis’ ink art, Daniel Boone 12th grader Dani Ha’s digital art, Exeter 11th grader Mia Herner’s ceramics, and Wyomissing 12th grader Jordan Newton’s photography. Each Honorable Mention student received $40.
Condict offered the following statement regarding the Honorable Mention recipients:
“Olivia Biancone has created what could be an illustration from an ancient and mysterious book, a lot of symbolism in a simplified color palette that works well to set the mood.
Jinyan Chen has used a combination of subtle gradations and masterful linework to bring this portrait to life.
Reese Dauber’s pumpkin field shows his mastery of perspective and a good understanding of color and value.
Mia Davis has exquisitely rendered a partially submerged face using pointillism to create a good range of values.
Dani Ha has handled a very unusual and difficult perspective to her advantage, pulling the viewer into the scene from a child’s vantage point.
Mia Herner’s creamer and sugar set is fun, funky, and reminiscent of a setting from a fairy tale.
Jordan Newton uses strong contrast and a tight crop to create a highly stylized graphic depiction of autumn leaves.”
The 2022 Senior High School Juried Art Exhibit is located in the Yocum Institute for Arts Education’s Holleran Gallery at 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn. Masks are required when visiting and please follow posted social distancing guidelines. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and closed on Sunday.