Visual Arts Teacher Halle McPherson has four reasons to be proud of her Cuyahoga Heights High School art students. Together, sophomores Ana Ratkosky, Aurora Robinson, and Sam Vallee, and senior Caden Buccier won awards in the 2024 Scholastic Art Competition sponsored by the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA).
Ratkosky won a Silver Key award for her chalk pastel drawing entitled “Lizard’s Eye”. Buccier won Honorable Mention for two entries, both ceramic (clay) pieces finished in acrylic paint. The first was a mask entitled “Japanese Oni Mask”, while the second was “Fish Whistle”. Also winning Honorable Mention were Robinson for a pastel drawing entitled “Dragon’s Eye”, and Vallee, for a ceramic piece finished in acrylic paint entitled “Box Troll”.
The students will be recognized at the CIA’s Scholastic Art Exhibition to be held May 18-June 1, with the award ceremony taking place June 1. As Honorable Mention award winners, Bucier, Robinson, and Vallee will have their work digitally displayed in the CIA’s gallery while Ratkosky’s work will be physically displayed in the exhibition.
McPherson said this was the first time she entered her students’ work in this competition and she plans to do so in the future. The event brought together the artistic works of more than 500 art students from Northeast Ohio whose entries were evaluated by a panel of creative arts professionals.
Picture #1: Ratkosky’s “Lizard’s Eye”.
Picture #2: Bucier’s “Japanese Oni Mask”.
Picture #3: Busier’s “Fish Whistle”.
Picture #4: Robinson’s “Dragon’s Eye”.
Picture #5: Vallee’s “Box Troll”.
Picture #6: Left to right are Caden Buccier, Aurora Robinson, Sam Vallee, and Ana Ratkosky.