Fifteen Bayonne High School students were among the 2007 Gold Key Award winners in a regional competition for the Scholastic Art Awards.
The annual contest is sponsored by the New York City-based Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, Inc., in conjunction with the publishing company Scholastic, Inc.
The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers is a not-for-profit organization that tracks the creative development of teenagers across the county each year. The awards program is one of the key elements of their effort for creative development starting in the seventh grade.
Started in the 1920s, the art and writing exhibitions and contests have served as starting points for some of the great artists and writers of the 20th century.
Young artists and writers from across the country submit their work to the program in a variety of venues that include everything from animation and video to computer art and photography. The competition is open to students enrolled in grades seven to 12 who attend public, private, parochial or home school in the United States, its territories, or U.S.-sponsored schools abroad.
Judges on both regional and national levels include professional artists, writers, curators, critics, educators, and professionals from leading creative industries. Judges have included poet Robert Frost and actor Bill Murray over the years.
The most outstanding works of art and writing from the regional contests are forwarded to New York City to be assessed on a national level.
The top two regional awards include Gold and Silver Key Awards. Those who win Gold Key Awards in a regional become eligible for the national competition.
Who won
For the art awards this year, judging for the New York region took place in Manhattan in late January. Bayonne submitted 89 entries. Fifteen Bayonne students from 10th to 12th grades received 23 Gold Key Awards out of a field of 3,000 entries. These winners now move on to the national competition to be announced shortly.
Kasey Balla submitted a portfolio that included oil paintings. She received two silver and two gold keys.
“I really wanted to win, but I didn’t think I would,” she said.
Balla loves art, but will likely pursue a career in criminal justice.
Faryn Lynch had a photo selected called “Forming a Posse.” This involved setting up dolls in an attempt to make them look real.
“I was very surprised to win,” Lynch said, intending to pursue a career as a photographer.
Like many of the other winners, Hyesung Cho, who submitted a family picture called “Mom and I,” was surprised at being selected. Cho intends to keep art as a hobby.
Dominic DuCap’s black and white image of two girls called “Forbidden” was meant to make a statement. “I was trying to send a message about love and how you can be together and separate,” he said, claiming he intended to follow a path of art and science.
Joseph Maresca submitted a computer graphic in which he did a self-portrait called “Drawing Joe.” Intending to continue to pursue work in computer graphics, Maresca said he is inspired by feelings.
Jared Hart’s entries were of people and scenes, resulting in winning six Gold Key Awards.
“I found the images interesting,” he said.
Called “Tagged Graffiti,” Ryan Zaleck’s award-winning collage reflected his interest in graffiti.
“I like to look at it,” he quickly added. “I don’t do any.”
Gaurav Shah won for a digital photo entry of people and landscapes that made use of color and contrast.
“I wasn’t confident I was going to win,” Shah said.
Nicholas Bicica said he tried to create a mood of sadness with his black and white digital photo of a face.
“This is the first award I’ve won,” he said, and has plans to attend New Jersey City University to major in art.
Susan Sikorski’s computer graphic image was called “Broken Promise,” and depicted legs and shattered glass.
Other winners were Thomas Harrington, Amanda Meys, Corinne Pona, Allison Antisz, and Sarah Cruz.
The students are from the fine arts classes of teacher Christina Poruczynski, photography teacher Thomas Hart, and computer graphics teacher Charlann Meluso.
“I’m very proud of what these students did,” said Meluso.