Best Overall Middle, Brianna McDonald.jpg

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is proud to announce the winners of a student art competition held in connection with their new exhibition, “Celebrating Creative Genius: The Art, Life, and Legacy of Eatonton, Ga. Native David Driskell.” 

Students from five schools (Putnam High, Putnam Elementary, Morgan High, Morgan Middle, and Indian Creek Middle School in Newton County) were invited to participate in the project. 

Art teachers were given packages that included art supplies, a lesson plan and a presentation to acquaint students with Driskell’s art and life’s work as an advocate for African American artists. Students were asked to produce a mixed media work of art inspired by Driskell, focusing on the use of line in color in a composition, and to write an artist’s statement about their work. 

The art teachers selected up to ten student art works to be displayed at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art, with the work of Master Artist David Driskell. A total of 39 works were selected and are currently on view in the West Gallery of the Museum as part of the “Celebrating Creative Genius” exhibition, which is open until April 22. (Go to www.steffenthomas.org to see the virtual tour of the show and to learn how you can visit the museum.) 

Prizes were given for each grade level in the three categories listed:

Best Overall Artwork 

Judge: September Gray, owner and director of the September Gray Gallery in Atlanta.

High School $100 Winner: Arella Cash (Putnam High)

Middle School $75 Winner: Brianna McDonald (Indian Creek Middle, Newton County)

Elementary School $50 Winner: Ja Norie Reid (Putnam Elementary)

Best Written Statement

Judge: Dr. Leara Rhodes, Associate Professor Emeritus, UGA Grady School of Journalism

High School $100 Winner: Lilly Roberts (Putnam High)

Middle School $75 Winners: Brianna McDonald (Indian Creek Middle, Newton County) and Paisley Triplett (Morgan County Middle)

Elementary School $50: Mikaela Angel (Putnam Elementary)

Best Use of Line and Color

Judges: STMA staff (Lisa Conner, Pam Tomany, Catherine Allen, Lilly McEachern)

High School $100 Winner: M J Faulkner (Morgan High)

Middle School $75 Winner: Kloe Christian (Morgan Middle)

Elementary School $50 Winner: Parris Sands (Putnam Elementary)

“Celebrating Creative Genius” Partners and Sponsors: Brenda and Larry Thompson, Driskell Center for the Visual Arts at the University of Maryland, September Gray and Don Roman.