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Category: Visual Arts

2023 Visual Arts Nominees


“Over-achievement” (Oil on canvas)
Kaiya Flores, Fremont High School

 When creating any art piece I often lose track of time and sense of reality. I like to challenge myself in my art because I believe we grow in places outside of our comfort zone. My art consists of me constantly making mistakes, and fixing them or adapting to them, and I think that’s the beauty of art. No matter what mistakes I make I know I can still produce a beautiful piece that I can be proud of. 

“Fire Starter” (Ink and Gold Leaf)
Alexander LaLonde, Grand Haven High School

Binding the gap between comic relief and eldritch horror, I created Firestarter to link our world with the unknown. Derived from biblically refrenced depictions, the angel-like creature seen destroying a popular city on earth is entranced in a deadly pursuit with our hot-headed protagonist. Yet, in their time of utmost importance, our hero’s attention seems… elsewhere. 
“Young to be Queen” (Black and White Digital Photography)
Zoey Brown, Hart High School

What I wanted to achieve in this photo is to give the children of the future the representation that they deserve. Children have so much pressure to live up to society’s standards of what they should be. As much as a child wants to make their parents proud, nothing should stand in the way of being a kid. 

“Fall Leaf” (Chalk Pastel)
Brodrick Fialek, Holton High School

Many people think of chalk as a child’s toy, but I see it as a great medium to blend, layer, and just have fun with.  The photograph I referenced was one I took in photography class that I believed was great compositionally and full of value.  I hope every viewer of my art piece appreciates the techniques and attention to detail I used to complete it. 

“Swimming in Money” (mixed-media)
Elizabeth Britting, Mason County Central High School

I wanted to create a piece that was meaningful and purposeful. My piece “Swimming in Money” is meant to illustrate greed within day to day life and how it continues to grow until it is out of proportion. 

“Koselius Portrait” (Acrylic paint, canvas, mod podge, black primer)
Joel Klimek, Mona Shores High School

This is a dear painting I made for my friend’s birthday, it is of his incubus bard character, Koselius, who is in a game of D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] that our friends play. Koselius is a charming fellow who has a pet snake, he is a noble from part of the infernal plane or Hell. With this portrait, I went for a more abstract way of colouring, colours used in an expressive way over realism. 

“teenage nightmare ” (wire, paper mache, and clay)
Daeja Hill, Muskegon Catholic Central High School

Being a teenager is hard, especially in a time where social media controls our free time and leaves impressionable young kids unrealistic expectations of what they ‘should’ be. I believe that many struggle with this issue, and feel alone. I created my scuplture to reach out to those who are struggling with their physical state and essentially remind them that;
 YOU are perfect the way you are and another woman’s beauty is not the absence of your own. 

“Let There Be Light.” (Mixed Media: acrylic paint, collage, watercolor)
Grace Painter, Newaygo High School

As I have developed as an artist through the years, I have pulled inspiration from a multitude of artists. However, the works of Vincent Van Gogh have always caught my eye and pulled at my heart. I recently was gifted the opportunity of a lifetime to go view the Van Gogh Exhibit in America. Using this experience and my faith, I created this rendition of a couple of Van Gogh’s famous paintings: “The Starry Night” and “The Olive Trees.” It hopes to capture my wonder and fascination with the beauty of God’s creation and art.

“Flower field” (Graphite)
Ellie Dewitte, Oakridge High School

The theme of my portfolio is flowers. Some flowers might not be as popular or well-known, but they still are breathtaking.  That’s what I wanted my portraits to represent; the flowers that aren’t mentioned or as well-known.

“Culture in Distress” (Oil paint )
Kennedy Hynde, Reeths-Puffer High School

In current times, diversity is commonly considered as something that is desired and accepted. However, my hope is to portray the focal point of my piece, a cultural woman who appears to be losing color, as a visual representation of how an obstinate society and diversity appear to interact. The message that I want to get across to my audience is one that addresses an injustice that is consistently prominent in today’s society. While individuals will frequently say that culture is welcomed with open arms, the reality is that cultures around the world are falling to extinction as a result of the individuals who refuse to accept them. 

“Flightless” (Charcoal, Graphite, Ethically Sourced Pidgeon and Chicken Feathers)
Anna Hultman, Spring Lake High School

Flightless explores how abusive relationships can make people feel exposed, powerless, and trapped. The angel’s cut wings represent how domestic abuse reinforced by a patriarchal society can subjugate and suppress women. The wing clippings she kneels on allude to the many before her who were cruelly torn down by centuries of abuse, but still, she remains strong. The strength and bravery women continue to show in times of hardship inspired me to create this piece. 

“Morty ” (Charcoal and graphite )
Bryce  Haltom, White Cloud High School

I find inspiration in the ordinary moments of life. This drawing of my dog captures a simple yet special moment between us. Through my drawing, I aim to convey the joy and companionship that my furry friend brings into my life. I hope this artwork reminds viewers of the beauty in every day and the love that our animal companions provide. 


“Mystic Blues ” (Acrylic paint, spray paint)
Samantha Navitskas, Fruitport High School

The purpose of my art is to express my inner vision. To show the unthinkable, the beauty and the mystery of non objective art. To make something that is considered “nothing” into a visual poem. Painting is the poetry of sight. Some may not understand it and others may create a wild meaning. It’s up to the viewer to create their own meaning, that’s if there even is a meaning. It may just be a beautiful visual piece or it may have the meaning to life. You decide. 

“Hidden in the Moss” (Ceramics)
Hope Olson, Grant High School

Being the child of an art teacher, I’ve been exposed to art for as long as I can remember; from the stick figures and lopsided pinch-pots I used to make as a kid, I’ve grown a lot over the years to get to where I’m at today. I’ve dipped my toes into just about every media I can get my hands on— you name it and I’ve probably done it at least once! But sculpture, especially ceramics, holds a certain place in my heart for its sheer versatility. Someone can just look at a hunk of clay, say ‘I’m gonna make you into a two-tiered dragon-shaped teapot’, and then just… do it! 

“The Feeling to be Captured ” (Acrylic and gauche paints )
Ellie Lotz, Hesperia High School

The creation of my painting “A Feeling to be Captured” was inspired by the look of pure focus and enjoyment while the musician in the painting would create something he is so passionate about, music. When I watched him create his music for the very first time I was mesmerized by the way he would freely and effortlessly pluck his guitar strings and imagine the sounds in his head before even playing them. I knew from that very moment that this was an emotion that needed to be captured visually instead of verbally. 

“Curious” (Colored pencil and watercolor)
Kadence Keegstra, Ludington High School

When making this, I wanted to go for something that was odd and intriguing. I really like bears and thought it would fit with my idea to draw a group of them walking through a forest of giant flowers and frogs. I did a wash of watercolor and added in my details with colored pencil. 

“Simplicity” (Acrylic on canvas)
Samantha Bateson, Mason County Eastern High School

I like to make art as a way to decompress and relax. Painting things in a sort of repetitive and slow manner helps with that. As of right now, I enjoy painting in classic and simple styles. My favorite things to paint typically require a lot of patience with blending, such as still lifes.

“All of the Time” (Watercolor mixed media)
Mars Stout, Montague High School

This piece is dedicated to my lovely partner, Morgan Ray. Morgan is one of a kind and has always supported me throughout our relationship. I love spending my days with them and bonding over our shared interests in fashion, music, and movies. The title of this piece is inspired by a song called “Love You All The Time” by Fur, a band we really like and relate to. though the majority of the song is irrelevant, I will constantly have the ending of it stuck in my head. The quote “I love you all of the time” will forever be applicable to our relationship.

“Swaying In The Moonlight” (Gouache and Acrylic)
KaNiyah Martin, Muskegon High School

This piece was inspired by my step sister who takes interest in ballet. The painting takes place in Italy at midnight during the renaissance age. It depicts an African American woman dancing on a balcony as the moonlight beams on her. 

“Connections” (Mixed Media: charcoal pencil, embrodery, and sewing.)
Lillian  Atkinson-Miller, North Muskegon High School

This work invites you to look at how you represent yourself and question if that is who you are. What are your connections to yourself? How does this affect your connections to others? Questions I want the audience to ask themselves when examining this piece. 

“Amor Eterno” (Full Value Pencils )
Abdy Santoyo, Ravenna High School

In this piece, I wanted to focus on a full value illustration. Amor Eterno is Spanish for “Eternal Love.” I wanted to showcase that love lasts far beyond the customary vows: “till death do us part.” When you truly love someone you’d move Heaven and Earth to be with them. Even in death, I’d like to believe that our soul ties remain tethered and our love endless.

“Escape” (Colored pencils and acrylic paint.)
Emma Soelberg, Shelby High School

Only in darkness can our passions be set free. It took experiencing the ups and downs of life for me to find my passion for art and who I am as an individual. I specifically chose to make my self-portrait black and white to demonstrate the doubt and blindness we so often feel. I’m gazing up at the colorful butterflies to represent how finding ourselves can draw us out of the darkness and unlock our unlimited potential. Look up and escape. 

“Black Diamond Mine” (Black and white charcoal on drawing paper)
Gerrod McDaniel, Western MI Christian High School

I wanted to challenge myself by trying to make a reverse charcoal piece and I thought an old mine would be the perfect subject to capture the emotion and time period of early mining companies. I mainly was just looking for a challenge on a subject I found interesting in which history is one of them.

“Duck Lake Sunsets ” (Watercolor )
Madison Borgman, Whitehall High School

I love mixing my love of photography with my love for Art. My art looks best when I paint pictures Ive taken myself, painting them allows me to make a photo bright with colors and bring out the true beauty in the world I live in. 

2022 Visual Arts Nominees

“Shades Of Green” (Glass)
Zoe Buckley, Fremont High School
My artwork is beautiful as well as functional. I only began to like looking at this piece when the process of making it was complete. I struggle to achieve in my eyes what perfection is. There is no meaning in this piece and it evokes no emotion in me, I only hope the viewer knows I worked hard on it.
“mixed media glass art” (Blown Glass)
Alec Law, Grand Haven High School
Most fathers might disapprove of their child playing with fire, but somehow, I convinced mine to allow it. Working with my hands has always been a large part of my life. I have been actively perfecting my craft since the age of ten, when I became interested in making jewelry. The pursuit of my work has helped me overcome challenges and push my creative boundaries. Through my dedication and drive, I have reached new levels of ingenuity and achieved new goals. My work has enabled me to meet amazing people who have been instrumental in my development as an artist and I’m very grateful for that. I first became interested in jewelry making when my grandmother visited one summer. I was enamored with the tools and wire used to create these works of art. From then on, I was hooked. My passion for creating evolved to glass fusing techniques. Along the way, I have met and have been influenced by many incredible artists. In large part, I credit my elementary art teacher, Mr. Aducci, for sparking my interest in glass as a medium. Experiencing the Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens also drove my interest in torch working and borosilicate glass work. When I work with glass, I play with how and where to add color and design. Trying different techniques with borosilicate glass to see what the material can do. Through experimenting I push my designs and creations and continue to grow my work in different ways
“Teenage Struggles” (Mixed Media)
Lea Kusche, Hart High School
The idea of my project is inspired by the show Euphoria, which is mainly about teenagers that struggle with mental health issues and drugs. I drew myself as a Euphoria character to show that those things are issues in real life as well. I included the space objects to describe the feeling of being lost and displayed the different factors that can cause struggles for teenagers.
“The Blue Jean Mitten” (Fabric)
Amya Battice, Mason County Central High School
The Blue Jean Mitten is a piece I made to represent Michigan and the blues that surround us .
“Art Recreation of Elaine de Kooning Self Portrait” (Digital Photography)
Patricia Gaiser, Mona Shores High School
In my art recreation of Elaine de Kooning’s self portrait, I tried to portray the soft yellow toned color palette and old modern feel of her painting into my photo. I used the items I had around my house to get as similar as I could to the background and outfit of Koonings portrait. After the photo was taken I went back and edited it to really finish it off with adding hues, saturation, highlights and many more editing styles. I picked Elaine because I loved her abstract paintings and her personality shown through her artwork. This piece is so interesting to me and that’s why I thought it would be perfect to recreate it.
“Paradiso e Contrapasso” (Mixed Media)
AJ Asmus, Muskegon Catholic Central High School
While creating this piece I couldn’t help but be reminded of all the souls recently lost. My hope was to capture the solemn reverence obligated by human nature to those who have passed.
“A Serene Night in Chicago.” (Color Pencil)
Evelyn Hernandez, Muskegon High School
The question I assigned myself was Can I use tints and shades of colors to give paintings meaning. To answer this question I made sure to research what vibes each color gives to know what I want to portray within the art piece. I used a basic picture in my camera roll and thought it would be fun to see if different colors could make it look cool. I used blue shades with tints of purple to give the viewer a feeling of serenity and calmness. I really liked how it turned out. It’s cool how you can turn a simple background into a whole different thing with just a mix of different colors.
“Science Fiction Fashion” (Fabric)
Haley Powers, Pentwater High School
Science Fiction Fashion is a 2-piece set and a crown inspired by the costuming in science fiction films. I was inspired by a kind of dystopian desert that is often used in sci-fi films. The skirt is inspired by clothing people would often wear to renaissance fairs because often times the clothing in science fiction is inspired early fashion history. I painted a corset I made using metallic colors.
“Science Fiction Fashion” (Fabric)
Haley Powers, Pentwater High School
Science Fiction Fashion is a 2 piece set and a crown inspired by the costuming in science fiction films. I was inspired by a kind of dystopian desert that is often used in sci-fi films. The skirt is inspired by clothing people would often wear to renaissance fairs because often times the clothing in science fiction is inspired early fashion history. I painted a corset I made using metallic colors.
“Elsa Guerrero” (Graphite and Charcoal)
Esmeralda Guerrero, Shelby High School
The two portraits in this picture are of my youngest sister Elsa Guerrero. I created this diptych to illustrate the emotions of my overly expressive sister. Out of all five of my youngest sisters, she’s always brought out the best of me. I admire everything about her and hold her dear in my heart.
“I Do” (Oil)
Courtney LaClair, White Cloud High School
I created this piece as a Christmas gift for my parents. I wanted to create something that would have a lot of emotional value to them. I decided on painting them on their wedding day because it was one of the greatest days of their lives. I found that the oil paint allowed me to give the painting a hazy, memory-like effect.
“Dad’s Music” (Acrylic)
Neva Hundt, Whitehall High School
I created this impressionist painting of my dad playing the guitar. In my art class, we were focusing on impressionism, so I painted something that was creating values and involved human form. I was challenged to create lots of different skin tones and the variation of depth for the background and all with out blending. Playing music is something we have always done together and are very passionate about.
“Equation” (Acrylic)
Samantha Navitskas, Fruitport High School
As I started to approach this piece for showcase I wanted to make it grand and stand out. I wanted this piece to be original and like no other. I found myself to be an abstract artist in 2015 when I loved working with color and having no expectations or limits. There was no right or wrong and that’s why I love being an abstract artist. While approaching this painting I was excited but mostly scared for I have never entered a contest like this and I’ve never done a painting this big. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I knew it was what I wanted. This piece has brought excitement, stress and happiness. Everyday I had a different opinion of the painting, one day from liking it to the next wanting to give up and throw it away but in the end it was worth it, I had to trust the process.
“Tea of Life” (Clay)
Sydney Higgins, Grant High School
I created a functional teapot from clay. I used the coil method with a hand wheel to create the piece. I was inspired by Japanese culture and nature to create the unique shape and designs. When creating this piece I wanted to make it cohesive. The rain is falling from the top of the handle all the way down to the bottom giving the plants life and holding the tea. I was excited to create a functional piece that I would actually use.
“All I Can do is Watch” (Mixed Media)
Gina Nye, Holton High School
I created this piece shortly after I lost someone very close to me to bad influences. I felt I slowly watched and encouraged this behavior in the end. The grief and guilt consumed me and I didn’t know how to handle it. So I expressed it in this art piece. Know I can hardly recognize them and watch their life from the sidelines. All I Can do is Watch…
“A Perfect, Imbalanced World” (Decoupage)
Trevor Oomen, Mason County Eastern High School
A little change can make a big difference. The Imbalance of my sculpture represents the Imbalance of the world when covid first started.
“this earth and i” (Graphite and Acrylic)
August Hawley, Montague High School
When I started this project, I realized that I’ve been making the same piece over and over again for three years. I intended to for this to be my final “thesis” on the intersection between people and nature and the idea that they’re synonymous. We need the world around us (bees, forests, etc), but we have to remember that we are the world around us, too, and when we hurt the earth, we hurt ourselves just as much. I have a feeling that this will still be far from my last dive into this particular project.
“me in a nutshell” (Acrylic)
Jayquan Sharp, Muskegon Heights Public School Academy
i started with a photo that me and my friends took and drew lines on a canvas and started painting. i was very happy and proud of myself for what i did.
“Dragon’s Lair” (Graphite)
Daisy Belanger, Newaygo High School
In my art, I like to capture fantastical scenes with a story behind it. With just a piece of pencil and paper, a whole scene can create a sense of exploration.
“Your Side, My Side, and the Truth” (Chalk and Oil Pastel)
Ginger VanAntwerp, North Muskegon High School
There are always three sides to every story. I Imagine if we took a deeper look, we may find that Rapunzel was the witch, and her mother really was her mother. Perhaps the real truth lies within deeper emotions. The secrets that no one dares to reveal, after all fear has a way of changing people. Perhaps Rapunzel just felt unheard, her tower was a metaphor, and her mother was just preoccupied with self care and outward appearance. Reality can be infinite.
“Self Autonomy” (Watercolor and Pastels)
Elijah Pierce, Orchard View High School
Me, exploring, expanding, living.
“Connection” (Acrylic)
Reanna Becker, Ravenna High School
For this piece I wanted to focus on relationships and connections. In this painting the male figure represents the Moon and the female represents the Sun. The Moon figure has a sense of mystery and darkness surrounding it, while the Sun radiates a sense of energy and positivity. I wanted to show that even though two things are completely different from one another they can manage to co-exist.
“Imagine” (Duct Tape)
Hailey Bos, Reeths-Puffer High School
In light of recent events affecting individuals around the world, I wanted to create an artwork that most people would recognize as a symbol of peace. John Lennon, a peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the Beatles, stood for political causes much greater than himself. With the unification of 10,800 individual pieces of tape—as we are all individual human beings—to embody a living legend, my work stands for something bigger than ourselves: a world where the pieces unite for peace and acceptance of everyone.
“Unity in Diversity ” (Acrylic and Gold Leaf)
Inez Allard, Spring Lake High School
I made this piece during Black History Month, and I was inspired by the clothing and symbols from Ghanaian culture. I chose to use the Adinkra symbol called Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu on the dress which represents unity in diversity. The name literally translates to “Siamese crocodiles”. The two conjoined crocodiles in the symbol represent democracy and cooperation. Crocodiles are typically independent creatures, but in this case, are forced to co-exist and unite for survival. The meaning of this ancient symbol is still relevant today.

2021 Visual Arts Nominees

A bound book with four bananas of various colors on the cover
“Going Bananas” (Photography)
Regan VanderWall, Artios of Grand Haven

This book was the creation of a semester long project exploring the many ways you can photograph a single topic. I chose the theme of fruit. Each week included a different material or technique that had to be used while still photographing your selected subject. This was able to give the final piece a diverse yet unified look which is showcased throughout my piece.
A short, wide clay pot with an orange-brown interior and blue mottled exterior.
“Hand Rolled Coil Pottery” (Clay)
Aiden Vela, Fruitport High School

I created this coil pot from hand rolled coils that I spent a ton of time blending. Forming this complex out and back in vase shape was challenging. To get it symmetrical I used a paddle and rib tool to scrape the surface to even it out. Before firing the surface was burnished with a metal spoon. I am most proud of how the surface turned out- I think it is hard to tell that I used coils.
A black and white ink drawing of a Japanese-looking house.
“Linear Perspective Architectural Drawing (Japanese Dwelling)” (Marker)
Brooke Johnson, Grand Haven High School

I have taken a variety of art classes, including Art and Design, Ceramics, Jewelry and Drawing. In this ink study, Linear Perspective Architectural Drawing (Japanese Dwelling), I used parallel lines and cross hatching to show the value structure of the wood on the house and scumbling to create the trees, plants, and woodchips. I wanted my artwork to be clean with clear structure, and I took my time to achieve that.
Paper Mache head with colorful flowers for hair, rainbow cheeks, and what appears to be blood dripping from the nose and eyebrow.
“Hopeless Pride” (Paper Mache & Acrylic)
Keelie Fidler, Hart High School

I decided to make my project to bring awareness to harassment against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
A sad clown in a funhouse mirror room. All of the reflections are smiling.
“Jingles the Jester” (Acrylic on Mirror)
Abby Wisniewski, Holton High School
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Jingles the Jester! Lost in a maze of mirrors, Jingles faces himself in a new light. As the fluorescent LED lights close in on him, he must face his own worst enemy… himself.
An abstract lookiing paining. Primary colors are blue on the left and yellow on the right.
“The Storm Inside” (Acrylic)
Astrid Lundström, Mason County Eastern High School

We were reading about Helen Frankenthaler and how she painted on the floor. We couldn’t do it inside so we went out on the grass. We got told to just express ourselves. So I started putting paint on and the farther I got the more creative I got. I started with a small brush then ended up with a bigger one at the end I was using my hands and a knife to put the paint on. In the end, I got the idea to use the grass to paint so I put a lot of paint on my canvas and turn it on the grass, and proceeded at jumping on it so it got a different texture and some grass in it. I kept that process going like that.
A young man looks at the viewer. He has long brown hair, glasses, and a goatee. In the background are virus particles.
“Self Portrait on Canvas #1” (Acrylic)
Teegan Day, Montague High School

Art is a reflection of how its creator sees the world. This self portrait encapsulates my view of the world over the past year. Where the effects of the pandemic are in the background of everything.
An album cover for Calvin Harris has clouds, a tree, and grass in white silhouettes and a narrowing purple circle suggests depth.
“Calvin Harris Album Artwork” (Digital Art)
JaBria Thomas, Muskegon Heights Public School Academy

I really like my art, I try to capture the poses and the essence of it. Drawing is like my comfort it’s a hobby I enjoy the most and it makes me feel calm.
A young woman with red skin, green eyes, and blue hair is surrounded by various symbols.
“Unfiltered Chaos” (Mixed Media)
Jade Velazquez, North Muskegon High School

My work entails the struggle between the inner emotions and what I show people. I wanted to capture the beauty of the unshown emotions. On the left side of my painting, I tried to keep it as perfect as I could—at least as perfect as any human can. On the left is what I show people, the perfectionist. On the right side, I tried to show the anger, frustration, sadness, and other emotions that I struggle to understand. In the piece, there is an eye on the right side, and I tried to paint around it using black. I messed up the line art and got upset, so I scribbled on that side of the piece while shedding some tears. I ended up taking a two-day break from my piece. Once I got back to the painting, I used scribbles representing the frustrations of trying to be perfect and not show any negative emotions. The being in the middle I painted is me, but as we all know, anyone can be in that situation, the fight between the person you are underneath and the person you choose to show people. As humans, we need to speak up and not hide our true selves in fear of what others might think.
A young african american woman stares a the viewer with her hands gently touching the sides of her face.
“Fresh” (Acrylic)
Destyni Lane, Oakridge High School

In this artwork I focused on portraying natural beauty. In society today we tend to compare ourselves to “ideal” images. Everyone is beautiful in their own way, natural beauty is the best beauty.
Twenty bottles with flowers are arranged on a wooden shelf with photos inside each bottle
“Pictures in Recycled Bottles” (Mixed Media)
Haley Powers, Pentwater High School

This project uses recycled Starbucks bottles and crepe paper flowers for a different way of displaying photography. I did this using a lot of pictures I have taken using either an iPhone or a camera. I used crepe paper that was donated to our school and wire that I repurposed from other people’s past projects to create flowers to add interest to the piece.
A series of three paintings show a woman in three stages. One has only nerves and a spiral of skin. The second has a skeleton, and the final one has a fully-formed body without limbs.
“The Journey of Self-Love” (Acrylic)
Lea Seifert, Reeths-Puffer High School

My pieces are meant to capture the journey of self-love. Starting at a place of negativity and self hatred, one may feel fragmented while their spirt is trapped by the cage of emptiness within them. Moving onto a state of neutrality, a person does not necessarily love themself or hate themselves; they simply see their body as a vessel for the soul. In the last stage of self-love, a person has positive feelings towards themselves and have become whole which allows the spirit to be fully embraced.
A Manji (swastika) symbol has been covered with metallic tape that says "Sorry this message has been censored to your own preconceptions. Your hatred is a mirror."
“Unity” (Mixed Media)
Hopper Miller, Spring Lake High School

Understanding before judgement. Was that your reaction? Were you inclined to understand or judge first? I fear that as humans we are more prone to judgement as a default and don’t make enough room for understanding. Gaining knowledge instigates empathy, compassion and a more holistic, productive view of the world around us. I’ve chosen the manji (swastika) symbol to use in this piece because in Buddhist traditions it’s a symbol for peace, prosperity and unity. However, in other contexts it’s viewed as a symbol of hate and antisemitism. I was struck by this realization on a recent trip to Thailand. The symbol was a common place, no different from a Christian cross. I hope this work challenges viewers to see things from a different perspective and maybe try and understand before passing judgement.
Painting of a waterfall over rocks into a pond surrounded by yellow grass and a tree.
“Where the Water Falls” (Acrylic)
Makenna Russell, Whitehall High School

In my art piece, I created a simple waterfall by using a unique technique. My process for this piece was by using acrylic paint but only focusing on two contrasting colors, which in this painting it were blue, and orange. My process also included creating this piece using only a pallet knife, which gave the painting a different texture and detail. The colors being opposites work together to capture the beauty in nature from a different perspective than what we’re used to.
A dream catcher made of stained glass in various shades of blue
“Dream” (Glass and Ceramic)
Valeria Castro, Fremont High School
When looking at a dream catcher people focus on the initial beauty, but forget there is a deeper meaning. My inspiration for this piece was my English teacher, and I wanted to create piece that represented her and the person she is. A dream catcher was the perfect choice because it symbolizes peace, hope, belief, and eternity. While creating this piece I specifically chose the color blue for two reasons (1) blue give a sense of peace and hope which reminds me of my English teacher (2) it also represents nighttime which is when a dream catcher is used. I learned that ever piece of artwork has a deeper meaning than what is seen on the outside.
Pencil drawing of a young woman in a cable knit sweater and necklace
“Glimpse of Me” (Pencil)
Liberty Malone, Grant High School

This piece was really enjoyable for me. I wanted to see how much detail I could put into a drawing. I found the most detailed sweater I had and took a picture of myself wearing it. It was a long process, but I enjoyed it. I made sure to make the texture in the sweater clear in the way it was woven. After quite a few hours of insanity, it became my favorite piece.
A black man staring with bees covering his face
“Bees” (Watercolor & Graphite)
Katelyn Lotz, Hesperia High School

I made this piece using watercolor paints and graphite pencils. The picture I used inspired me because the obscurity of the bees being on the man’s face was appealing. I chose to do the bees in color because I want the viewer to focus on the fear being faced. I also chose to do a man of color because recent events have been taken to help bring equality among races and I think that this art piece shows my support.
A person leans against a sick, staring at the viewer. A black bar covers their eyes. Colors are muted.
“Refugee” (Mixed Media)
Jessica Martin, Mona Shores High School

When creating my Mixed Media Social Issues artwork, my goal was to express the issues refugees face as much as possible. I did so by blacking out the faces of my figues to hide their identity because refugees are often forgotten. I also wanted to picture the mood of sadness and despair they face for any reason they needed to abandon their homes such as their political or religious beliefs, ethnicity, war, or natural disasters.
Magazine and newspaper cutouts and a pencil drawing form the base of the Amazon building in downtown Muskegon.
“On Western” (Mixed Media)
Soli Gordon, Muskegon Catholic Central High School

First I had to take a photo of the Amazon building in down town Muskegon. Then I edited the photo before I printed it out as a 16×20 poster. I cut the building out and stuck the photo onto the canvas. Then I began to stitch with neutral brown thread onto the canvas. I stitched the building outline, then windows, bricks, and window panes. Finally, I drew with pencils the right side of the Amazon building onto the canvas.
Painting of a oung person falling asleep in front of a laptop in their kitchen/. A mechanical pencil is in their hand, ready to take notes.
“3AM” (Gouache)
Evelyn Garcia, Muskegon High School

I wanted to show how many students including me have had a hard time adjusting to online learning with the start of covid and all. I would spend most of my nights trying to catch up on piles of assignments and would occasionally fall asleep. It’s even more difficult to catch up in classes since the number assignments just seem to grow as the days go by.
A yellow figure with a red bandana covering their mouth and a chain surrounding their head like a halo has red tears streaming from their eyes.
“La Resistencia” (Mixed Media)
Flor Quiñones, OAISD Careerline Tech Center

The piece in commemoration of the youth fallen by the oppressive persecution in Venezuela in 2014. The work and technique imitate the use given to spray paint during the protests, it was the strongest medium of expression, used to trace symbols and names of people fallen on the streets.
A three dimensional T-Rex head pops out of the foliage in this background.
“T-rex” (Paper mache)
River Creed, Orchard View High School

I created this dinosaur using multiple mediums. The first layer consists of cardboard and tin foil. Then, I added 3 layers of paper mache. Then, I made and glued on close to 2,500 hot glue scales. Finally, I painted.
A painting of ducks in a pond appears in a duck-shaped recess into a wooden board that has been burned.
“Autumn’s Eye” (Wood & Acrylic)
Autumn Morton, Ravenna High School

I really enjoyed making this art project and I put a lot of work into it. Over eight weeks I created this piece, I first started by tracing out my duck on a piece of wood, and little by little I used a wood dremal to carve it out. I then sanded it down, burned the wood, stained the wood, and added many layers of paint making my mallard duck landscape in the inside. I chose to make this with a duck because it reminds me of something that relaxes me and makes me happy, duck hunting just distracts me from everything just like art. I had a lot of fun making this, it let me try new things and represent a fun hobby while pursuing my love of art at the same time.
A young woman with pigtails sits in a chair, smiling at the viewer.
“Erika Guerrero” (Graphite)
Esmeralda Guerrero, Shelby High School

The portrait in this picture is of my little sister Erika Guerrero. I made this art because Erika is very dear to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. She is someone that has encouraged me to accomplish the things that I dream of fulfilling.
A young woman in a red dress and black boots looks at the viewer while seated on top of a young child's plastic slide.
“The Duality of Man” (Acrylic)
Lydia Geigle, White Cloud High School

The inspiration for this was to show that though I’m getting older, I refuse to be an adult. That’s overdone, but I thought it would be funny, and now it’s just too powerful. My main goal for art is to confuse and frighten the audience, bestowing upon them a emotional experience unmatched by any other event.

2020 Visual Arts Nominees

Painting of young man with lit match hanging from his mouth.
“Match” (Acrylic on Canvas)
Skylar Ziegler, Artios Academy of Grand Haven
Stylized drawing of young person holding up their heart as loved ones watch from below.
“Leaving Behind and Taking In” (Ink and Marker)
Elijah Wynn, OAISD Careerline Tech Center
Four drawings and a sculpture of figures in various pieces. They are connected by ribbon.
“With Strings Attached” (Mixed Media)
Megan Zelenka, Grand Haven High School
Drawing of a castle from the viewpoint of the drawbridge.
“Untitled” (Graphite)
Amya Allen, Hart High School
Vertical strips of natural patterns including monarch butterfly wings, birch bark, and flowers.
“Humanization” (Mixed Media)
Hannah Thompson, Holton High School
Statue of Liberty with a sash that reads "We the People" in front of a red, white, and blue ribbon and the U.S. Capitol building.
“We the People” (Marker)
Kendall Davidson, Muskegon Area Career Tech Center
Young couple in suit and dress in front of a diner and teal classic car.
“A Dream” (Acrylic)
Adrianna Malburg, Mason County Eastern High School
Photograph of two steer skulls on the ground surrounded by leaves.
“Unveiling” (Digital Photography)
Violet Renna, Montague High School
Anime-style drawing of a young man's profile. He's wearing a mask.
“Man in a Mask” (Pencil)
Cornell Fletcher, Muskegon Heights Academy
A broken violin with music notes escaping on a golden background.
“Finessed in Gold” (Mixed Media)
Jaala Duncan, North Muskegon High School
15 figures in yellow jumpsuits on either side of a person dressed in all red whose face has a symbol of Islam. Background has a tall wall, fencing, and a Chinese flag.
“Ecdysis” (Acrylic and Marker)
Aliyah Spicer, Orchard View High School
Thin young woman with worried expression surrounded by words and tentacle mouths.
“Never Enough” (Graphite)
Brooke Shirey, Ravenna High School
Two canvas paintings combine to show a person's face with a colorful mask covering their upper face.
“Open Minded” (Acrylic)
Yasmin Tomas, Shelby High School
Drawing of sunflowers surrounded by vines that go onto the matting.
“The Outs” (Paper and Pen)
Phoebe Benson, Spring Lake High School
Young woman with mirrored glasses with flowers floating above her head.
“Modern Flower Child” (Mixed Media)
Grace Stout, Whitehall High School
Three prints showing various bathrooms.
“Bathrooms” (Printmaking)
Sophia Bassett, Calvary Christian School
Cut paper arranged to form a red bicycle. Rolling hills in background.
“The Meadow” (Cut Paper)
Katie Sanborn, Fremont High School
Scenes showing a young woman finding support from others. Flowers are interwoven throughout the scenes.
“Grow Again” (Mixed Media)
Alicia Ralya, Fruitport High School
Drawing of young man with smoke or vapor coming from his mouth, surrounded by vegetation.
“what do i see” (Pencil)
Delaney Cronk, Grant High School
Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice.
“RBG” (Watercolor)
Aria Thomas, Hesperia High School
Painting of a gazebo on a lakefront with cityscape behind.
“July 14, 2019” (Watercolor and Marker)
Madelyn Maycroft, Kent City High School
Traditional Polish dress with flower headband.
“Polska księżniczka” (Textile and Beads)
Jennie Golaszewski, Mason County Central High School
Drawing of a deserted, tight alleyway littered with trash.
“Wyngsanorrian Back Alley” (Graphite Pencil)
Zachary Schnotala, Mona Shores High School
Five drawings of a young woman's face. Four are unraveling to various amounts.
“Helix” (Pencil and Charcoal)
Ava Asmus, Muskegon Catholic Central High School
Three young African-American men with halo's above their heads.
“Three Kings” (Graphite)
Samarri Knox, Muskegon High School
Three drawings of various cartoonish characters.
“What I See When I Close My Eyes” (Watercolor Pen and Marker)
Camber Tanis, Oakridge High School
Young man with three sets of hands pulling at him from different directions.
“Biracial” (Graphite Pencil and Paint Pen)
Lucas Quinteros, Pentwater High School
Scene of an art studio with sketches covering a wall, easel with partial drawing and stool surrounded by canvas'.
“The Art Studio” (Mixed Media)
Loretta Kersten, Reeths-Puffer High School
Drawing of a werewolf snarling in front of the moon.
“Full Moon” (Charcoal)
Jenna Drum, Walkerville High School
Drawing of a martini and gun surrounded by a bloody aperture.
“Bond” (Acrylic)
Lydia Geigle, White Cloud High School

2019 Visual Arts Nominees

Abigail Bair
Artios of Grand Haven
“You’re Busted!” (Clay)

Alexandria Assaad
Calvary Christian School
“Moments” (Mixed Media)

Savannah Bachert
OAISD Careerline Tech Center
“What Cannot Be Wept” (Acrylic and Colored Pencil)

Megan Adsmond
Fremont High School
“Open for Business” (Digital Photography)

Jordyn Jones
Fruitport High School
“I’m not posing I swear.” (Oil)

Hanna Bryant
Grand Haven High School
“Raw Beauty” (White Charcoal)

Ashley Bearup
Grant High School
“Eyes” (Watercolor)

Isabel Finch
Hart High School
“The Opaque Serenity” (Acrylic on Wood)

Trinity Flanery
Hesperia High School
“Tundra” (Mixed Media)

Cassidy Armstrong
Holton High School
“The Ugly Truth” (Oil Pastel)

Hannah Van Wert
Kent City High School
“A Diamond is a Girl’s Best Friend” (Graphite Pencil)

Anna Gwiazdowski
Ludington High School
“Embrace the Unknown” (Oil)

Kara Rowley
Muskegon Area Career Tech Center
“Heart SUV” (Pen/Watercolor)

Ashley Metheny
Mason County Central High School
“Cereal Portrait” (Cereal Collage)

Samantha Goodman
Mason County Eastern High School
“Life of the Bikini Bottom” (Mixed Media)

Benjamin Kendall
Mona Shores High School
“It Could Happen to You” (Graphite)

Karley Leek
Montague High School
“Zodiac” (Acrylic on Fabric)

Macey Gabrielson
Muskegon Catholic Central High School
“Dare to Be Different” (Metal Wire)

Nataly Torres-Laureano
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy
“For Friendship There is No Color” (Acrylic)

Kimberly Duncan
Muskegon High School
“Glow-Vibe” (Acrylic)

Kathryn Kepner
North Muskegon High School
“Arisen” (Acrylic)

Serena Fairbrother
Oakridge High School
“Still Climbing” (Acrylic)

Noah Rebedew-Velez
Orchard View High School
“Primordial Rays” (Watercolor and Ink

Meagan Grondsma
Pentwater High School
“Boxes” (Clay)

Katelyn Vanderwoude
Ravenna High School
“See the Sea” (Clay and Glaze)

Cody Neinas
Reeths-Puffer High School
“Aged Emotions” (Graphite and Charcoal)

Sebastian Chimal
Shelby High School
“Three Stripes Equality” (Mixed Media)

Jordyn Barding
Spring Lake High School
“Sub Zero” (Paper Clay)

Jenna Drum
Walkerville High School
“Curious Angel” (Mixed Media)

Isabel Karnes
White Cloud High School
“Loose Change” (Acrylic on Pennies)

Grace Breckler
Whitehall High School
“The Touch” (Watercolor)

Holly Gould
Western MI Christian High School
“My Kind(a) People” (Mixed Media)

2018 Visual Art Nominees

Here are the 2018 Visual Arts Nominees!

The artwork is on display at the Reception Gallery in the Frauenthal Center (2nd Floor – Hilt Building) through Sunday, April 29th.

“Winter”
Carter Thompson
Artios of Grand Haven

Christine Meyer, Calvary Christian School
“What They Saw” (Acrylic)(Artwork Creation Video)

Nakita Semenetz, Fremont
“Glass Dancer” (Mixed Media)

Maryna Oliinyk, Fruitport
“Strawberry Bouquet” (Colored Pencil)

Cassidy Ryder, Grand Haven
“Petoskey” (Jewelry)

Samantha Lynes, Grant
“Learning to Cope” (Chalk Pastel)

Jenna Lohman, Hart
“Thorns Unseen” (Mixed Media)

Hannah Thompson, Holton
“Destroying” (Graphite)

Ryan Kik, Kent City
“Gastrointestinal Perforation” (Colored Pencil)

Anna Gwiazdowski, Ludington
“Which One is the Real Me?” (Oil)

Megan Briggs, Mason County Central
“Daydream” (Acrylic)

Campbell Shoup, Mason County Eastern
“Fetch?” (Acrylic)

Caroline White, Mona Shores
“Modern Woman” (Collage and Acrylic)

Cari Rasor, Montague
“Sinking” (Acrylic)

Jesus Esquivel, Muskegon
“Commemorated” (Chalk Pastel)

Lindsey Joyce, Muskegon Catholic Central
“Self Portrait: Blooming” (Acrylic)

Tileya Hardmon, Muskegon Heights
“Unfamiliar” (Digital Montage of Facial Art)

DeAnna Strong, Newaygo
“Self Discovery” (Mixed Media)

Jimmy Cobb, North Muskegon
“Suspended Ascent” (Steel)

Olivia Olenzuk, OAISD Careerline Tech Center
“Creative Self-Portrait” (Digital)

Kristen Micko, Oakridge
“Madeline” (Clay)

Michaela Carlisle, Orchard View
“Overflow Garbage” (Mixed Media)

Hannah Gebhart, Pentwater
“The Two of Me” (Graphite)

Zoe Spoelman, Ravenna
“Untitled” (Digital Photography)

Julia Ojala, Reeths-Puffer
“Present” (Colored Pencil)

Sebastian Chimal, Shelby
“Deserted” (Colored Pencil and Ink)

Eric Dunlap, Spring Lake
“Kindred” (Mixed Media)

Holly Gould, Western Michigan Christian
“A Colorful World” (Mixed Media)

Kora Wright, White Cloud
“Growth” (Sculpture)

Madison Bond, Whitehall
“Golden Hour” (Acrylic on Wood)

2017 Visual Arts Nominees

Here are the 2017 Visual Arts Nominees!

Diane Reminder, Artios of Grand Haven
“Genius” (India Ink)

Allyson Richards, Calvary Christian
“Resound” (Colored Pencil)

Molly Veenstra, Fremont
“Growth” (Acrylic on Shutter Door)

Hailey Tuttle, Fruitport
“An Elephants Shadow” (Watercolor and Colored Pencil)

Eileen Carmolli, Grand Haven
“June Hydrangea” (Watercolor)

Sarah St. Arnold, Grant
“Capturing the Memories” (Colored Pencil)

Lesly Guerrero, Hart
“Silent Cry for Help” (Mixed Media)

Olivia Prado, Hesperia
“Undoubtedly Unseen” (Oil on Canvas)

Sydney Armstrong, Holton
“Unexpected Love” (Graphite)

Kristyn Norton, Mason County Central
“Grow Away” (Clay)

Jordan Goodman, Mason County Eastern
“What’s ‘Running’ Through You” (Mixed Media)

Samara Hernandez, Mona Shores
“Her Flourishing Corpse” (Watercolor)

Margaret Innis, Muskegon Catholic Central
“Certain Light” (Acrylic on Wood Panel)

Zosia Mackey, Muskegon
“Always a Target” (Acrylic and Charcoal on Fabric)

DeAnna Strong, Newaygo
“Left or Right?” (Mixed Media)

Kelly Torz, North Muskegon
“Snowy Night” (Digital Art)

Sebastian Phimmasane, OAISD Careerline Tech Center
“Reflection” (Pen and Ink)

Murphy Goins, Oakridge
“Negative Projection” (Mixed Media)

Leum Campbell, Orchard View
“Sunday’s at Westboro” (Mixed Media)

Meagan Grondsma, Pentwater
“Anatomy Series: Ballad of a Girl and her Mind” (Mixed Media)

Camryn Rogers, Ravenna
“Rose Colored Glasses” (Acrylic)

Noel Sheffer, Reeths-Puffer
“Harmonic Imbalance” (Mixed Media)

Lillian Baker, Shelby
“Island Hopping” (Watercolor)

Isabel Donnelly, Spring Lake
“For us.” (Mixed Media)

Dayana Arredondo, Walkerville
“Coffee in Paris” (Digital Art)

Holly Gould, Western Michigan Christian
“Beauty” (Pencil)

Matthew Reynolds, White Cloud
“IJN Battleship Yamato” (Colored Pencil)

Danielle Jurcich, Whitehall
“International Rose Gardens” (Acrylic)

2016 Visual Arts Nominees

Here are the 2016 Visual Arts Nominees!

Calvary Christian - Allyson Richards - "Through the Veteran's Mind"
Calvary Christian – Allyson Richards – “Through the Veteran’s Mind”

Fremont - Mitchell Hawkins - "Reflections"

Fremont – Mitchell Hawkins – “Reflections”

Fruitport - Rebecca Frucci - "Helping Hands"

Fruitport – Rebecca Frucci – “Helping Hands”

Grand Haven - Caroline Harvitt - "Weathered"

Grand Haven – Caroline Harvitt – “Weathered”

Grant - Andrea Gardner - "Jack O'Lantern"
Grant – Andrea Gardner – “Jack O’Lantern”

Hart - Claire Marshall - "Early Morning Walk"

Hart – Claire Marshall – “Early Morning Walk”

Hesperia - Olivia Prado - "If You Give a Boy a Gun"

Hesperia – Olivia Prado – “If You Give a Boy a Gun”

Holton - Riley Hicks - "Cut From the Same Cloth"

Holton – Riley Hicks – “Cut From the Same Cloth”

MACTC - Carna Machowski - "Black and White Torn Paper"

MACTC – Carna Machowski – “Black and White Torn Paper”

Mason County Central - Carleigh Davis - "Coexist"

Mason County Central – Carleigh Davis – “Coexist”

Mason County Eastern - Alex Abernathy - "It's What's Inside"

Mason County Eastern – Alex Abernathy – “It’s What’s Inside”

Muskegon Heights Academy - Julieaunna Clark - "Her Stairway to Knowledge"

Muskegon Heights Academy – Julieaunna Clark – “Her Stairway to Knowledge”

Mona Shores - Alex Baker - "KISS MY ____"

Mona Shores – Alex Baker – “KISS MY ____”

Montague - Chloe Scamehorn - "One and the Same"

Montague – Chloe Scamehorn – “One and the Same”

Muskegon - Marria Davis - "Meltdown"

Muskegon – Marria Davis – “Meltdown”

Muskegon Catholic Central - MiKahla Koehler - "As She Cries"

Muskegon Catholic Central – MiKahla Koehler – “As She Cries”

Newaygo - DeAnna Strong - "Layers of Personality"

Newaygo – DeAnna Strong – “Layers of Personality”

North Muskegon - Nikitha Nelapudi - "Black Leaves and Silver Trees"

North Muskegon – Nikitha Nelapudi – “Black Leaves and Silver Trees”

OAISD Career Tech Center - Darnell Clink - "Stargazed"

OAISD Career Tech Center – Darnell Clink – “Stargazed”

Oakridge - Holly Baker - "Everyday is for Flowers"

Oakridge – Holly Baker – “Everyday is for Flowers”

Orchard View - Salencia Farr - "The Metal Maiden"

Orchard View – Salencia Farr – “The Metal Maiden”

Pentwater - Hannah Gebhart - "Chocolate"

Pentwater – Hannah Gebhart – “Chocolate”

Ravenna - Katelyn VanderWoude - "Who Are You?"

Ravenna – Katelyn VanderWoude – “Who Are You?”

Reeths-Puffer - Trenton Bouchard - "Dream Drifting"

Reeths-Puffer – Trenton Bouchard – “Dream Drifting”

Shelby - Dylan Towne - "Steampunk Observation"

Shelby – Dylan Towne – “Steampunk Observation”

Spring Lake - Benjamin Baird - "Andy's Thoughts"

Spring Lake – Benjamin Baird – “Andy’s Thoughts”

Walkerville - Ashley Merriman - "The Beauty in the Beast"

Walkerville – Ashley Merriman – “The Beauty in the Beast”

Whitehall - Brianna Griffin - "Around the World"

Whitehall – Brianna Griffin – “Around the World”

Western Michigan Christian High School - Clay Negen - "Sitting On the Galaxy"

Western Michigan Christian High School – Clay Negen – “Sitting On the Galaxy”

2015 Visual Art Nominees

Here are the 2015 Visual Arts Nominees.

Calvary Christian - Sydney Hammond - "Reflection", Oil Painting
Calvary Christian – Sydney Hammond – “Reflection”, Oil Painting

Careerline Tech Center - Anna Carmolli - "Blossom", Watercolor and Ink
Careerline Tech Center – Anna Carmolli – “Blossom”, Watercolor and Ink

Coopersville - Rachel Myszak - "Everyday Technology", Ink
Coopersville – Rachel Myszak – “Everyday Technology”, Ink

Fremont - Will Hawkins - "Moose Lake", Pencil
Fremont – Will Hawkins – “Moose Lake”, Pencil

Fruitport - Kaytee Walker - "The Beauty of Imagination", Graphite, Colored Pencil, and Ink
Fruitport – Kaytee Walker – “The Beauty of Imagination”, Graphite, Colored Pencil, and Ink

Grand Haven - Stephanie Shantz - "Grand Mere", White Earthenware Clay
Grand Haven – Stephanie Shantz – “Grand Mere”, White Earthenware Clay

Grant - Madison Lawyer - "The Wind and the Sea", Colored Pencil
Grant – Madison Lawyer – “The Wind and the Sea”, Colored Pencil

Hart - Sonia Lopez - "Fishy Dream", Pencil and Colored Pencil
Hart – Sonia Lopez – “Fishy Dream”, Pencil and Colored Pencil

Hesperia - Olivia Prado - "My Family", Pencil
Hesperia – Olivia Prado – “My Family”, Pencil

Holton - Mary Humphreys - "Past to Present", Graphite and Charcoal
Holton – Mary Humphreys – “Past to Present”, Graphite and Charcoal

Mason County Central - Courtney Cooper - "Beautifully Old", Graphite
Mason County Central – Courtney Cooper – “Beautifully Old”, Graphite

Mason County Eastern - Jordan Mickevich - "Black and White", Pencil
Mason County Eastern – Jordan Mickevich – “Black and White”, Pencil

Mona Shores - Abby Olsen - "Deterioration", Oil Pastel
Mona Shores – Abby Olsen – “Deterioration”, Oil Pastel

Montague - Shelby Friday - "Generations of Beauty", Mixed Media
Montague – Shelby Friday – “Generations of Beauty”, Mixed Media

Muskegon Area Career Tech Center - Ally Givens - "The Thoughtless Women", Torn Paper
Muskegon Area Career Tech Center – Ally Givens – “The Thoughtless Women”, Torn Paper

Muskegon Catholic Central - Kyra Pikowitz - "Expressions", Oil on Canvas
Muskegon Catholic Central – Kyra Pikowitz – “Expressions”, Oil on Canvas

Muskegon Heights PSA - Derek Peterson - "Arthur Ashe", Graphite
Muskegon Heights PSA – Derek Peterson – “Arthur Ashe”, Graphite

Muskegon - Juan Martinez - "Our Origin, Our Home, Our Love", Oil on Canvas
Muskegon – Juan Martinez – “Our Origin, Our Home, Our Love”, Oil on Canvas

Newaygo - Faith Sobers - "8:18", Acrylic, Graphite, and Printmaking
Newaygo – Faith Sobers – “8:18”, Acrylic, Graphite, and Printmaking

North Muskegon - Jimmy Cobb - "Carried Away", Oil Pastel
North Muskegon – Jimmy Cobb – “Carried Away”, Oil Pastel

Oakridge - Mariah Morgan - "The Inner Me", Mixed Media
Oakridge – Mariah Morgan – “The Inner Me”, Mixed Media

Orchard View - Zack Bancuk - "Inspiration Graduation", Pencil
Orchard View – Zack Bancuk – “Inspiration Graduation”, Pencil

Ravenna - Justin Jones - "Calvin Johnson", Ink
Ravenna – Justin Jones – “Calvin Johnson”, Ink

Reeths-Puffer - Morgan Nichols - "The Rhythm of Art", Wood and Old Piano Keys
Reeths-Puffer – Morgan Nichols – “The Rhythm of Art”, Wood and Old Piano Keys

Shelby - Yazzlin Hernandez - "A Man is His Own Prisoner", Acrylic on Canvas
Shelby – Yazzlin Hernandez – “A Man is His Own Prisoner”, Acrylic on Canvas

Spring Lake - Katie Hettenbach - "Angles and Anatomy", Mixed Media
Spring Lake – Katie Hettenbach – “Angles and Anatomy”, Mixed Media

Walkerville - Madelynn Eschman - "Nature Up Close", Digital Photography
Walkerville – Madelynn Eschman – “Nature Up Close”, Digital Photography

Western MI Christian - Hyrie Ma - "I Am Cold", Paint
Western MI Christian – Hyrie Ma – “I Am Cold”, Paint

White Cloud - Tiffany Lapworth - "Beauty in the Dark", Acrylic on Canvas
White Cloud – Tiffany Lapworth – “Beauty in the Dark”, Acrylic on Canvas

Whitehall - Tyler Quillen - "Rose", Pastel
Whitehall – Tyler Quillen – “Rose”, Pastel