Art pieces from Secondary School competition winners now on exhibit

Arts pieces done in a recent inaugural art competition for secondary school students are on exhibit at the Youlou Art Gallery at Indian Bay. And, proprietor of the Gallery, Camille Saunders-Musser said the pieces will be on display though to the end of October, 2024.

Kala Dublin from the St. Clair Dacon Secondary School placed third with a piece titled ‘Caribbean Cultural Patterns’.

Eighteen students from five secondary schools, submitted works for the competition which had its final judging in August as the pieces were mounted for display.

The entrants to the competition are from the St. Clair Dacon Secondary; the Thomas Saunders Secondary School; St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown; St. Martin’s School; Dr J.P Eustace Memorial Secondary; and the St Vincent Girls’ High School.

Loriel Pope from St. Joseph’s Convent, Secondary placed first with a piece titled ‘Caribbean Express’; Zahndra Roberts from the St Vincent Girls’ High School was awarded 2nd place. Her piece is titled ‘The Fabric Of Our Lives’; Kala Dublin from the St. Clair Dacon Secondary School placed third with a piece titled ‘Caribbean Cultural Patterns’. A release from the Youlou Arts Foundation states that there were two honorary mentions-Kingslie Millington from St. Martin’s Secondary School whose submission is titled ‘Caribbean Cultural Patterns’, and Talonie Tucker from the St. Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown.

Her piece is titled ‘Caribbean Cultural Patterns’.The Youlou Arts Foundation launched the arts competition for secondary school students aged 12-16 years in February, 2024. They were asked to create art work on the theme ‘Caribbean Cultural Patterns’.

Students were asked to pay attention to creativity; interpretation of the theme; originality; and proper use of medium, and those interested in entering the competition were required to inform their Art teacher, while the Art teachers were responsible for choosing five pieces worthy of entering the competition and for making sure that the selected pieces were handed over to the team at the Youlou Art Centre. Three judges appointed by the team at the Youlou Art Centre did the final judging in August. Students whose pieces were judged to be first second and third as well as those who received honourable mention, will receive cash prizes, which Saunders-Musser said will be paid to them before the end of September, 2024.

The first prize winner will receive $500, second prize $400, and third prize $300; while the two students whose work received honourable mention will each receive $100. Their work is being exhibited at the Youlou Art Gallery, Indian Bay.

By organising the competition, the Youlou Arts Foundation said it seeks to help nurture the creative spirit in children and foster artistic possibilities at an early age; and organizing an art competition is one way to empower children to create, and to feel free to pursue the arts.

Youlou Arts Foundation is anticipating that the competition will not be its last for Secondary School students.

The Foundation has extended thanks to the sponsors and has extended an invitation to the public to view the work of the students at their Arts Gallery at Villa.