Published On: May 8th, 2016By Leticia Fehling

Aldine ISD Students Earn Recognition at State Art Event

The state event represents the pinnacle of artistic success in the program known as VASE.

AISD students show off their 2016 State VASE medals. Posing are (front row, l-r) Liliana Tario, María Zavala, Paola Zúñiga and ShaNel Robertson. Winners include (back row, l-r) Xavier Downing, Neema Callender and José Gutiérrez. Gold Seal medalist Zavala also earned honors in 2015. Alexis Pérez from MacArthur HS and Lisette Obregón (not pictured) from Victory Early College HS medaled too.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]H[/dropcap]igh school student students earned top honors at the Texas State Visual Arts Scholastic Event. The competition took place in San Antonio April 22-23.

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Artwork by María Zavala

The state event represents the pinnacle of artistic success in the program known as VASE. To advance to state, the students’ work had to undergo judging and earn a rating of 4. This is a Superior rating. Advancing to the state event is a difficult achievement. Each student that receives a Superior rating receives the VASE State Medallion.

To emphasize the students’ achievement, more than 30,000 pieces of artwork competed at regionals. Of these, a set percentage of artworks with Superior ratings advance to the state event. Distinguished rating and received the coveted Gold Seal medallion. The judges only selected 150 entries for the Gold Seal Show.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Texas Art Education Association has sponsored the Visual Art Scholastic Event since 1994. VASE is one of the largest curricular competitions in the nation. Only academically eligible senior high school students can compete. A panel judges the students’ works in the following key areas:

State-VASE-On-Decay-by-Jose-Guiterrez-at-Davis-HS-1

“On Decay” by José Gutiérrez

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Technical expertise[/li] [li]Originality of concept[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Understanding of the essential elements[/li] [li]Interpretation of the student’s stated intent[/li][/ul]

Professional TAEA members judge each student’s artwork at all levels of competition. They use a rating standard to award based on the quality of the work.

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“Jun Jun” by Paola Zúñiga

As students advance from the region to state event, judging becomes much more rigorous.

State VASE Rating System

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Distinguished Rating 5 Distinguished (given only to Gold Seal artwork)[/li] [li]Rating 4 Exemplary[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Rating 3 Superior[/li] [li]Rating 2 Excellent[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Rating 1 Accomplished[/li][/ul]

The “Gold Seal” medallion is the top state award. It is presented to Distinguished works of art chosen by the state jury panel. María Zavala from Nimitz High School received the Gold Seal awards. María’s work formed part of the Gold Seal Show. Leslie Rowney is her art teacher.

One AISD student earned a Gold Seal, while eight others received Exemplary 4 ratings.

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Artwork by Alexis Pérez

The state event provides a forum for art teachers and students to meet and grow artistically. Each year at the event, students also take part in workshops, lectures, and demonstrations. After the jury process, all the entries are on exhibit. Students can view their peers’ works and see the vast talents and fresh ideas of others.

Dr. Michaelann Kelley is proud of the students and their teachers. Kelley serves as program director of fine arts for Aldine ISD.

“Making it to the State VASE is a huge accomplishment,” Kelley. “Aldine ISD had 20 students with their amazing work that advanced to state. And I am so excited that we had one student get a Gold Seal at State VASE.

“We have talented students. And we have dedicated art teachers. They work with their students every day to become better artists.“