April 29, 2005

Talent of artists

Students display paintings, photographs, sculptures.


By ANITA MUNSON
Tribune Staff Writer

"Self Portrait," by Amy Yoon, a Culver Academies senior, is the top prize winner in the third annual Culver Tri Kappa Student Art Show now under way. Tribune Photo/ANITA MUNSON Student art exhibit What: Culver Tri Kappa third annual Student Art Show Where: Culver-Union Township Public Library, 107 N. Main St. When: Today, 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Monday, 3 to 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, 4 to 7 p.m.

   CULVER -- There's some serious art going on in Culver today through Wednesday at the Culver-Union Township Public Library, 107 N. Main St.
   The work of dozens of seventh- through 12th-grade students from Culver Community Schools and Culver Academies is on display in the library's lower level, representing the imaginations and skills of some of the brightest young artists in the area.
   It's the third annual Culver Tri Kappa Student Art Show, featuring sculpture, with winners announced today.
   Amy Yoon, a Culver Academies senior from Seoul, South Korea, took first place overall for her "Self Portrait." She also has "Self Portrait/as Butterfly" exhibited in the show.
   Both are thoughtful pieces which skillfully combine painting and drawing to evoke a realistic sense of Yoon's self-understanding.
   "Butterflies are my symbol thing for art; it's freedom, being free, and I always dream of it," Yoon said, unaware that her work had just been chosen for the top award.
   She plans to attend the University of Illinois-Champaign, she said, to perhaps study commercial art.
   Lauren Barrett, a Culver Academies senior from Fishers, Ind., has several of her black-and-white photos exhibited. Her favorite, "Lacrosse," which depicts an exterior stairway weathered from the elements, earned second place in the photo division.
   "I'm known for my portraits," Barrett said, "so this was kind of out of my zone. I ended up putting it in a second development solution so it would turn brown."
   Barrett said the photo, taken on a rainy day in Rhode Island, was one of many.
   "I probably shot five rolls of film," she said. "It kind of surprised me."
   Barrett intends to go to Indiana University, where she wants to study journalism or business.
   Joseph Jefferies, a Culver Community High School senior, used watercolor to interpret a scene his art class was asked to re-create. Jefferies used the cool shades of the palette to replicate an old barn sitting proudly in new-fallen snow.
   "It was my first piece with oil paints," Jefferies said. "I enjoyed it very much."
   Jefferies said he liked the details of the work, and said he has drawings at home of roses, dragons and other fantasy-style work, most done in pen and ink.
   Scott Hinsey, another Culver Community High School senior, took third place in the two-dimensional category with his work "Sunbeams," done in tempera paint. It's one of his favorite pieces, so far.
   "I'm working on one now, it's still in the drawing phase," Hinsey said of a piece which features two characters, Master Chief and Elite, from the game "Halo 2," to be finished in oils.
   Jessica Shaffer, a Culver Community High School senior, has several works on display, too. She liked working with oils.
   "I like the texture, I like the feel," Shaffer said. "I've liked art since the seventh grade. I took painting last year and loved it."
   Winners include:
   First overall -- Amy Yoon, Culver Academies, "Self Portrait."
   Second overall -- Hae Mee Han, Culver Academies, "Covers."
   Photography -- First, Katie Webb, Culver Academies, "Isaiah"; second, Lauren Barrett, Culver Academies, "Lacrosse"; and third, Lauren Barrett, "Freddy."
   Sculpture -- First, Heather Newman, Culver Community High School, "The Cows"; second, Nadine Rasch, Culver Academies, "Little Car"; and third, Shane Giuliani, Culver Academies, "Vase."
   Two Dimensional -- First, Valerie Davenhauer, Culver Community High School, "Trio, Just Some People"; second, Erin Brady, Culver Academies, "Death of Shakespeare"; third, Scott Hinsey, "Sunbeams"; fourth, Cassie Borg, Culver Community High School, "Hurry Bee"; and fifth, Brittney Banks, Culver Academies, "Friend of Mine."
   Honorable mentions -- Whitney Johnson, Culver Community High School, "Horses"; Min Kim, Culver Academies, "Landscape"; Beth Wojdyla, Culver Community Middle School, "Friends"; Zafiro Joseph, Culver Community Middle School, "The Valley"; Jordan McIntire, Culver Community High School, "Lilly and Frog"; Chloe So Shim, Culver Academies, "High Heels"; and Erin Brady, "Harvest Still Life."