Aldine ISD Visual Arts Program Shines at Wells Fargo Contest Bringing Home 22 Awards of 53 Division Awards

One AISD student and an instructor earn Best of Show and the Outstanding Teacher Award, respectively.

Student Mónica Coronado and art teacher Matthew Kirkpatrick pose next to her artwork titled “Goddess.” Mónica won Best of Show. Kirkpatrick received the Outstanding Teacher Award.

Many think of storytelling in the written, narrative form. But there is narrative in art. Art education isn’t just a means of learning an artistic skill or practice; it is also a unique tool for learning about different cultures and perspectives. It is also a tool for students to understand who they are.

“Festival in San Luis” by Lizette Guzmán

What is your story?

The theme for the 20th Annual Wells Fargo Student Art Contest, Storytellers, is inspired by Society for the Performing Arts‘s (SPA) performance of the cinematic shadow play Feathers of Fire. Student artists were tasked with sharing their personal stories through artwork that answers the question, What is your story? They could tell their personal tastes, family histories and cultural background that reflect the diversity of Houston.

SPA recently announced the winners of the 2018 Wells Fargo Student Art Contest, co-sponsored by Neiman Marcus. Aldine ISD students shined in telling their stories. AISD prekindergarten to high school artists earned 22 individual honors with Mónica Coronado from Carver High School winning Best of Show. The magnet school also had another winner. Art teacher Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick received the Outstanding Teacher Award.

Each year, students compete in their respective grade level division. More than 700 students submitted artwork from across the area. Houston ISD, Alvin ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Alief ISD, Pasadena ISD, Katy ISD, Conroe ISD, private schools and art studios had student entries this year.

Artwork by Yareli Medina

The judges for the Wells Fargo Art Contest are art professionals Mat Kubo and Regina Agu. Kubo works at Houston Arts Alliance in the Civic Art & Design Department, previously acting as a sculpture professor at UTSA, where he also received his Masters in Performance Art and Sculpture. His work focuses on interpersonal relationships and its intersections with social media.

Agu is a conceptual artist, currently acting on the Board of Directors at Project Row Houses as well a fellow at Lawndale Artist Studio Program. Her work deals with representation and language and how they are contextualized within history and site, addressing spatial politics and race.

The judges looked at several factors including interpretation of theme, creativity and quality. Dr. Michaelann Kelley, director of visual arts, couldn’t be more proud.

“Happy Birthday” by Eric Morales

“Aldine’s young artists took home 42 percent of the awards,” Kelley said. “They did a great job! I also have to thank the art teachers for the long hours and most of all for being excellent role models for our students.”

Shannon Crider also lauded the work by all the talented artists. Crider is director of education and community engagement with SPA.

“We are excited by all of the incredible work and moved by the stories that your students told,” Crider said.

“The Beautiful Without” by Han Van

The Awards ceremony was held April 29 at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. All students received free tickets to upcoming SPA performances. Seniors winning honorable mention received a cash prize. As the Best in Show winner, Monica Coronado won a $2,500 prize.

AISD Award-Wining Artwork

Division PK

3rd Place – Ximena Luna
Campus: Kujawa EC/PreK School
Teacher: Miykal Boston

Division A: Grades K-2

2nd Place – Hailey Rivera
Campus: Sammons Elementary School
Teacher: Deanna Calderón

Honorable Mention (HM) – Camille Culton
Campus: Reece Academy for Montessori, Direct Instruction & Fine Arts
Teacher: Kimmie Gillespsie

Artwork by Hailey Rivera

HM – Emmanuel Manzano
Campus: Worsham Elementary
Teacher: Maria Cisneros

HM – Katie Escamilla
Campus: Orange Grove Elementary School
Teacher: Shelby Tedder

Division B: Grades 3-5

1st Place – Yareli Medina
Campus: Stovall Academy
Teacher: Taylor Ramsey

HM – Alexa Carrillo
Campus: Goodman Elementary School
Teacher: Sasha Runnels

Division C: Grades 6-8

Artwork by Alexa Carrillo

1st Place – Lizette Guzmán
Campus: Plummer Middle School
Teacher: Lindsay Burns

2nd Place – Jennifer González
Campus: Hoffman Middle School
Teacher: Terrance Clark

HM – Grace Parks
Campus: Plummer Middle School
Teacher: Lindsay Burns

HM – Shonease Murphy
Campus: Hambrick Middle School
Teacher: Israel Romero

Artwork by Camille Culton

Division D – 9-11

1st Place – Eric Morales
Campus: Davis High School
Teacher: Chris Weeden

2nd Place – Han Van
Campus: Davis High School
Teacher: Chris Weeden

HM – Evieh Braddy
Nimitz High School
Teacher: Jorge Vásquez

HM – Keenan Harris
Campus: Carver High School for Engineering, Applied Technology & The Arts
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

HM – Sarah Guerrero
Campus: Carver HS for Engineering, Applied Technology & The Arts
Teacher: Matt Kirkpatrick

HM – Clarissa Chávez
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

Division E: Grade 12

Kirkpatrick receives his award at the ceremony.

Best of Show – Monica Coronado
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

HM – Mikaela Smith
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

HM – Craig Spillars
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

HM – Jazmín Navarro
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

HM – Jada Menifee
Campus: Carver HS
Teacher: Matthew “Matt” Kirkpatrick

Congratulations!

See images from the Awards Ceremony.