Artists of ELHS Excel at the Shoreline Arts Awards

EVE SLEMP
A dash of paint here. A tool of string there. A little glam of sparkle here never hurt anyone…and ta-da!

Art is a prominent talent here at ELHS and students recently gained recognition for their hard work this past year. Students attended a reception at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts on Saturday, March 25 where they received awards for their artwork.

“This year was exceptionally exciting because of the level of awards my students received,” art teacher Rachel Michaud said. “I am so proud of them; they work so hard all year.”

Three students won special awards and cash prizes for their art. Senior Tessa Page, who committed to University of Hartford in hopes to pursue art and illustration, received a Mixed Media honorable mention award for her piece, “Hello, My Name is.” “It was my first mixed media piece ever,” Page said. “I’ve never used glass, tile, wire, and other materials for my art before.” Page incorporated lots of small cartoons, stickers, and favorite colors to express herself in this self portrait. “My pieces are supposed to illustrate how I view people and the world around me,” Page said. “I want as much imagination and creativity to be put into the pieces as possible.” The final EL award winner is Jiang (Diego) Di Sha, who won first place in drawing for his piece “Midlife Crisis.” “When others see my work, I hope people can see the story behind the surface level brush strokes for not only my pieces, but other artists,” Sha said. Senior Sophia Seguin received a second place award in painting for her piece “Blood, Sweat, and Tears.” In addition to these awards, Tessa Page and Carter Bonura received the CT Association of Schools Visual and Performing Arts Awards for outstanding work and commitment to art these past four years. “I hope they make a name for themselves. I hope they’re not afraid to make a name for themselves. I hope they have the confidence to do what they’ve been doing,” Ms. Michaud said. “I hope they find their place and voice in this world.” Join these artists and many more on May 23, 2023 for the ELHS art expo to view their magnificent work.