Contour by Luis Zepeda, 2014 Gold Medal Art Portfolio

Have you ever had a dream where you find yourself naked at school? While that may be a nightmare for most, Luis Zepeda likes to infuse his works with a touch of humor, which in his 2014 Gold Medal Art Portfolio, the humor comes from a nude Zepeda. More of his work is shown below. Shannon Daniels aims to communicate acute observations about her family based on her experiences growing up with a strong link to her parents and grandparents in New York City. “Persimmon peels left on the kitchen table. The chipped keys of a piano that is out of tune. Everyday objects like these reveal whole histories of the people who use, save, and discard them.” says Daniels.

Daniels, a student at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, continues to describe her portfolio in her writers statement: “To approach and relay my encounters with giant, ubiquitous beasts – death, racism, and poverty – I have learned to begin with the ordinary, the small. From hearing family stories over the kitchen table to grocery-shopping in Chinatown market stalls, I’ve discovered that moments that are dismissed as banal or mundane can unfold daily, unspoken truths.” You can read excerpts from her pieces Scale (below) and Ars Poetica (following Luis’ work). Read More

Ford Town, USA 1960 by Laurel Taylor. Age 16, Grade 11, Cincinnati, OH.

Duck Tape® has always been known as a fix-all for DIY repairs, but with the addition of colors and prints this once utilitarian tool has quickly become a craft medium that is both unique and accessible. Sponsored by Duck Tape®, this award encourages new forms of creativity, individuality and personal expression. One award of $500 is presented to a student that expresses their artistic skills using Duck Tape® in their creation. Read More

For the second year in a row, we asked creative teens around the country to submit boundary-breaking creations incorporating cutting-edge technologies and techniques to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. We received an amazing variety of creations that defied the confines of the Scholastic Awards’ current categories, including 3D design, robotics, and performance art.

Three Future New submissions utilizing 3D Systems’ free 3D design software were awarded $1,000, sponsored by 3D Systems as well as a print of their work made using a top-of-the-line 3D Systems printer! Learn more about this year’s winners below! Read More

Renal by Madison Brownson. Age 17, Grade 12. 2014 Gold Medal, Art Portfolio.

Hanel Baveja and Madison Brownson both create to help bring a new level of awareness to our lives and our bodies. While Hanel’s “greatest hope for my work is that my poems strike a chord of shared existence” with her readers, Madison’s “hope is to make the viewer pause and realize the beautiful complexity of their own anatomy or the world around them.” Both artists aim to awaken their audience to the intricacies of the world we share.

In honor of National Poetry Month, here is a selection from Hanel’s Award-winning portfolio, comprised entirely of poetry! You can also see more of Madison’s plush organs below!

When Clark’s Ice Cream Parlor first opened

Combinations we’d never even dreamed of.
Names too long to remember:
Dark chocolate ice cream with raspberry
cheesecake pieces and caramel bonbons,
sweet cream ice cream with bumbleberry
compote and jordan almond fudge chunks. Read More

Tyra Abraham, Drops of Life

The spark of genius, the burst of inspiration…where and how do they begin? This spring we will profile our 2014 Portfolio Gold Award Medalists and let you draw your own conclusions! Without further ado, please meet our inaugural pair: artist Tyra Abraham and writer Jonathan Gelernter.

Tyra Abraham is from New York City and attends high school at the Hewitt School. “The work I submitted for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is based on the theme of vulnerability. This project represents my most personal and sentimental work. It also embodies my journalistic approach to taking photographs. I cannot think of another set of images that epitomizes my style of photography, and for this reason, I submitted it for this competition.

For me, photography serves as an outlet for my creativity. I love wandering around New York City and exploring new neighborhoods. At school, I am a photographer for the yearbook and the student newspaper. I take photos of a variety of school events ranging from sports games to concerts to portraits of the faculty and students. My camera is like my personal journal; I carry it almost everywhere and document my surroundings. It’s rare to not see me with a camera hanging around my neck. Photography is deeply personal and can sometimes be more effective than writing.” Read More

Have you ever wondered where we display the beautiful National Medalist artwork we receive every year? We recently started a new Instagram series, On Our Walls, which takes you on a special tour of the work that hangs in the Scholastic New York City Headquarters.

Many of the National Medalist works move on to be a part of the Art.Write.Now.Tour and Art.Write.Now.DC following the National Exhibition. The work that does not go on the road will find a year-long home in our offices, including 3D works that are too fragile to travel. For the thousands of employees and visitors who come through our doors every day, the opportunity to see your work is a very special experience.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @artandwriting to follow the fun and check out the work after the jump!
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