On February 16, 10 EHS students participated in the regional Visual Arts Classic competition at UW Whitewater where we competed against nine other schools. The VAC team included Eleanor Doro (10), Jamie Hoang (11), Lily Hofstetter (11), Liam Kellihan (11), Olivia Morsbach (11), Uriel Nikiema (11), Elisa Olson (10), Briana Runnheim (11), Sylvia Thompson (11), and Luna Zimmerman (10). The VAC team competed in individual long-term and onsite art project prompts, onsite team creative challenges, and an art history quiz bowl. 

The following students earned first place recognition for the individual long-term and/or onsite art project prompt and progressed to the VAC state competition at UW Madison. Elisa Olson, Olivia Morsbach, Brianna Runnheim, Lily Hofstetter, Sylvia Thompson, Luna Zimmerman

The six EHS Art students who participated in the State Visual Arts Classic competition competed against 60 other Wisconsin schools. The VAC State team included Lily Hofstetter (11), Olivia Morsbach (11), Elisa Olson (10), Briana Runnheim (11), Sylvia Thompson (11), Lydia Shannon (11) as an alternate for Luna Zimmerman (10). The VAC team competed in individual long-term and onsite art project prompts. Participating in the Visual Arts Classic is a huge challenge and a great accomplishment as students were given a list of limited materials, limited time, and project prompts (with no opportunity for planning). The team had to collaborate, research and study art history, and dedicate time outside of class and other extracurricular activities. These students are amazing!

The following EHS students earned Awards at State VAC

• Elisa Olson - 1st Place Long-term Painting
• Olivia Morsbach - 1st Place Long-term Printmaking, 2nd Place Onsite Printmaking
• Brianna Runnheim - 1st Place Long-term Sculpture, 2nd Place Onsite Sculpture
• Lily Hofstetter - 1st Place Long-term Sculpture
• Lydia Shannon - 1st Place Onsite Mixed Media
• Sylvia Thompson - Honorable Mention Onsite Mixed Media

(Click each image for larger view)

Elisa Olson	Olivia Morsbach
Brianna Runnheim	Lily Hofstetter
Lydia Shannon	Sylvia Thompson

 

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Scholastic Art Award

This year, three art students placed in the Scholastic Art Awards: Wisconsin Region. Works receiving a Gold Key or Silver Key, was on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum in the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards - Wisconsin Exhibition. Gold Key-awarded entries are automatically considered for national awards, including Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and scholarship awards.
 

Sylvie Klestinsky (9) - Gold Key

Eleanor Doro (10) - Silver Key (2024 Wayfarer cover art)

Lydia Shannon (11) - Honorable Mention

Regional Youth Art Month Exhibition
Five EHS students exhibited their art at the Regional Youth Art Month Exhibition held at the Common Wealth Gallery in Madison. This exhibition was on display in February. Three works out of the five pieces of art submitted from each art teacher will be selected to move on to the State Youth Art Month Show as part of Wisconsin’s Youth Art Month Celebration. Art that makes it to the state level will also be eligible for awards and prizes! The State YAM Exhibition was held at East Towne Mall March 2-22. The following EHS student’s artworks were on display at the Common Wealth Gallery.

• Eleanor Doro
• Mataya Machovec Fernandez
• Hayden Reuhl
• Lydia Shannon
• Aidan Sweeney

Please enjoy a few Arts Education Fast Facts from Americans for the Arts

1. Students with high arts participation and low socioeconomic status have a 4 percent dropout rate—five times lower than their low socioeconomic status peers.[1]
2. Students who take four years of arts and music classes score an average of over 150 points higher on the SAT than students who take only one-half year or less.[2]
3. Low-income students are highly engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education.[3]
4. A recent study showed that arts education experiences reduce the proportion of students in school receiving disciplinary infractions by 3.6 percent.^[4]
5. 91 percent of Americans believe that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education.^[5]
6. The arts are recognized as a core academic subject under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and, as of 2020, all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have adopted standards for learning in the arts.^[7]