CB East Student Wins Art Prize

A student from Central Bucks High School East recently came out a winner in a professionally juried art show.

Gabe Infante won one of three "purchase prizes"  at the annual "Touch the Future" art show.

A student at CB South, Keith Mecutchen, also won one of 14 category prizes for his traditional silver print.

An awards ceremony was held at Arcadia University to celebrate the winners of the 26th annual show.

Students from 27 Bucks and Montgomery county public high schools submitted artwork to the professionally juried show, which began as a tribute to Christa McAuliffe, NASA’s teacher in space who died aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Three best of show winners were chosen along with 14 category winners, three PSEA purchase prize winners, and a juror’s prize winner from the approximately 300 pieces of artwork submitted by teachers throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Arcadia University also awarded the first place winner a $1,500 achievement award, second place winner a $1,000 achievement award and third place winner a $500 achievement award for every year of full-time undergraduate study at Arcadia University.

Sponsored by the Mideastern Region of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools, this year’s show was juried by Carole Loeffler, associate professor of art and design at Arcadia University.

"All of the students with work in this exhibition are to be celebrated," Loeffler said in a statement. "Rarely do we get to see so much talent, inventiveness and skill in one space. Being surrounded by work made with such great ambition, heart, passion and vision is truly an exhilarating and unforgettable experience."

The event is co-chaired by art teachers Lynne Pribis of Upper Dublin High School, Connie Berger of Cheltenham High School and Kelly Washington of Pennsbury High School.

"Once again we find ourselves facing detrimental budget cuts to our schools, including programs like art," said Linda J. Weaver, president of the Mideastern Region.

"To walk through this exhibit is to see the incredible talent and dedication of our students and the incredible teaching and mentoring offered by our teachers. To take these opportunities away would not only be robbing them of the chance to explore their creative gifts and where that exploration may take them, but also depriving the community of the meaningful works of beauty that our students create year in and year out."

The exhibition is open to the public through Thursday, March 14 during gallery hours:

Tuesday/Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday, 10am - 3pm; Saturday/Sunday, noon - 4pm.

It is located at Arcadia University (Commons Art Gallery and the Great Room lobby area) – 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, Pa. 19038.

For more information, contact 215-572-2131 or email gallery@arcadia.edu.

Winners by county are as follows (with best of show, juror’s prize and purchase prize pieces highlighted with an asterisk and underlined):

Bucks County

Bensalem High School

Taylor Hamilton, Best of Category – Fiber Crafts

(Instructor Deanna McLaughlin)

Central Bucks East High School

*Gabe Infante, PSEA Purchase Prize

(Instructor Ann Huuki)

Central Bucks South High School

Keith Mecutchen, Best of Category – Traditional Silver Print

(Instructor Elizabeth Janney-Horan)

Council Rock North High School

Maya Wilson, Best of Category – B&W Drawing

(Instructor Jim Biglan)

Council Rock South High School

Karina Grossman, Best of Category – 3D Functional

(Instructor Martha Taylor)

Pennridge High School

Sarah Tyson, Best of Category – Printmaking

(Instructor Patty Knott)

Pennsbury High School

*Victoria Schenck, Second Place “Best of Show”

(Instructor Curtis May)

Rebecca Rathgeb, Best of Category – 3D Mixed Media

(Instructor Curtis May)

*Kayli Hannah, Juror’s Prize

(Instructor James Minton)

Montgomery County

Cheltenham High School

Hannah Gilliam, Best of Category – Jewelry/ Metals

(Instructor Merav Nesvisky)

Nicolette Marrone, Best of Category – Digital Photography

(Instructor Lori Oliveras)

Hatboro-Horsham High School

*Victoria Ta, Third Place Best of Show

(Instructor Lauren Economou)

Brianna Branco, Best of Category – Color Drawing

(Instructor Lauren Economou)

Lower Merion High School

Robin Weiner, Best of Category – Painting (Acrylic/Oil/Watercolor)

(Instructor Louise Pierce)

Lower Moreland High School

*Victoria Hua, PSEA Purchase Prize

(Instructor Angela Sweigert)

Springfield High School

Michelle White, Best of Category – 3D Single Medium Sculpture

(Instructor Mark Kobasz)

James Miller, Best of Category – 2D Design

(Instructor Chris Houston)

Souderton High School

*Marlene Allebach, First Place Best of Show

(Instructor Ginny Perry)

Upper Dublin High School

*Annie Tsay, PSEA Purchase Prize

(Instructor Lynne Pribis)

Upper Merion High School

Rohwanna Smith, Best of Category – Digital Imaging/Computer Graphics

(Instructor Megan Bishop)

Upper Moreland High School

Deanna Black, Best of Category – 2D Mixed Media

(Instructor Alex Pinguli)