Some of Gilmer County’s youngest artists have their work on display for public viewing through April.
The Gilmer Arts Gallery recently celebrated National Youth Art Month with an exhibit that includes artwork from the county’s five public schools and North Georgia Christian Academy.
“The art teachers choose what they’re going to put together, and each teacher brings the artwork to us to show,” said Pam Burns, gallery manager.
First, second and third-place winners for each grade in each school received ribbons and certificates at a March gallery reception. A Best of School winner was also selected for each school. The pieces were judged by Anita Elder, an oil and watercolor artist from Dahlonega.
The featured art includes drawings, sketches, paintings, photographs, multimedia pieces, sculptures and more. It represents a wide range of talent and capability among the varying student age groups, Burns said.
“The student art is so good,” she added. “Everyone who comes in, even folks who don’t bring children with them, say, ‘Oh my gosh. There’s so much talent here!’ People are just amazed at how talented these kids are and how well they’re taught.”
Winners in the Youth Art Month exhibit, as submitted by Gilmer Arts, are as follows:
Ellijay Elementary: Third grade: 1st - Emma Nicholson, 2nd - Baylee Murillo, 3rd - Catalina Perez-Lopez; Fourth grade: 1st - Skyler Fowler, 2nd - Greisy Garcia Aguilar, 3rd - Lee DeFoor; Fifth grade: 1st - Madison Newberry, 2nd - Allison Monroy, 3rd - Marla Ramsey. Best of School: Allison Monroy.
Clear Creek Elementary: Kindergarten: 1st - Honey Sung, 2nd - Kendall Jones, 3rd - Rylan Shelton; First grade: 1st - Tucker Ponder, 2nd - Avi Leon, 3rd - Finn Smith; Second grade: 1st - Farrah Arnold, 2nd - Owen Teague, 3rd - Myla Bramlett; Third grade: 1st - Anna Miller, 2nd - Brinlee Banks, 3rd - Ethan Gramling. Fourth grade: 1st - Weston Dubois, 2nd - Sophie Holt, 3rd - Landon DeBoard; Fifth grade: 1st - Della Richards, 2nd - Kaleb Low, 3rd - Bawi Cung. Best of School - Weston Dubois.
Mountain View Elementary: Kindergarten: 1st - Gracie Thomason, 2nd - Greyson Chastain, 3rd - Taytum Mooney; First grade: 1st - Kenley Payne, 2nd - Gracie Hollandar, 3rd - Molly Harris; Second grade: 1st - Ciza Tzum Puac, 2nd - Amara Warnock, 3rd - Grace Ewing; Third grade: 1st - Christina Lopez, 2nd - William Minick, 3rd - Sofia Flores; Fourth grade: 1st - Caroline Davis, 2nd - Carli Mohon, 3rd - Trinity Brookshire; Fifth grade: 1st - Marley Wells, 2nd - Dany Ramirez, 3rd - Nolan Handley. Best of School - Caroline Davis.
Clear Creek Middle: Sixth grade: 1st - Lily Teague, 2nd - Jaira Lucas, 3rd - Briana Lopez Bautista; Seventh grade: 1st - Aubrey Chadwick, 2nd - Christian Ajton-Pelico, 3rd - Macayla Colwell; Eighth grade: 1st - Jennifer Garcia, 2nd - Anahi Balderos, 3rd - Juana Perez Monroe. Best of School: Juana Perez Monroe.
Gilmer High: Ninth grade: 1st - Baylie Johnson, 2nd - Jaiden Bauer, 3rd - Baylie Johnson; Tenth grade: 1st - Omori Cooper, 2nd - Fox Mitchell, 3rd - Isaac Southerland; Eleventh grade: 1st - Lydia Bowman, 2nd - Lexi Anderson, 3rd - Vicky Raymondo; Twelfth grade: 1st - Annabell Byrd, 2nd - Addison Emond, 3rd - Jaiden Dolan. Best of School - Annabell Byrd.
The exhibit initially also featured pieces by local art teachers, but those will be coming down this week, Burns noted. Some of the featured pieces created by Gilmer High students have also moved on to a state art competition.
The youth artwork will remain on display in the Gilmer Arts Gallery’s Hawthorne Hall exhibit room until Saturday, April 27. The gallery is located in downtown Ellijay at 207 Dalton Street.