Art students from Braswell High School, Guyer High School, and Ryan High School went to San Marcos High School on Friday, April 28-Saturday, April 29, 2023 for the State Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE). A total of 15 Denton ISD students with 16 artworks advancing to the State competition. They brought home 2 GOLD SEAL awards and 9 Gold Medals for a total of 10 All-State Artists with 11 Exemplary or Distinguished rated art pieces.
This is the culminating event of a year of diligence and creative genius on behalf of the art students, teachers, and administrators in Texas. Students entered their artwork in the Region event in February. The students are interviewed and their artworks are juried by certified Texas Art Education Associaion (TAEA) jurors. A Rating IV is the mark of an exemplary work of art. This qualifies the student to be entered into the VASE Area Event. After the jury process is complete, artworks that qualify to participate are then processed for the State Event.
The State Event is held annually in April. State qualifying artworks are assessed by jurors from across the United States on Friday. Student artists who receive a Rating IV — Exemplary at the State Event will be awarded with a state medallion and will be named an All-State Artist by TAEA and VASE. The artwork created by these students will be featured on the VASE website. Artworks receiving a Rating IV-Exemplary at the State Event are eligible for consideration for the highest honor in VASE, the Gold Seal Award. The State VASE Jurors will select artworks that represent the goals of VASE and exemplary examples of concept, technique, craftsmanship, and creativity in student artwork. Students selected as Gold Seal winners will receive a Gold State Medallion and their artwork will be exhibited in a variety of venues across the state, culminating with the Gold Seal Exhibition at the annual TAEA Fall Conference in Allen, Texas. On Saturday of the State VASE Event, students may participate in hands-on workshops, sketching opportunities, and compete for scholarship money. Students are also eligible for memorial scholarships. The event is intended to provide a forum for art teachers and students to meet and to grow artistically and personally. There were a little over 31,000 regional VASE entries this year. Out of those, 2,100 made it to State VASE. Out of the 2,100 only 151 earned a Gold Seal. We are so proud of our students and their representation at the State competition. Way to go, artists!
RATING V – Distinguished (Gold Seal Artwork)
RATING IV – Exemplary
RATING III – Superior
RATING II – Excellent
RATING I – Accomplished
BRASWELL HIGH SCHOOL
Samantha Melendez, 9th Grade, Sculpture, Teacher Kiba Jacobson, V GOLD SEAL
Allison McLeod, 11th Grade – Painting & Sculpture Teacher Angelia Ford & Kiba Jacobson, IV Exemplary
Ashlynn Smith, 11th Grade – Colored Pencils, Teacher Angelia Ford, IV Exemplary
Alazjah Tates, 9th Grade – Colored Pencils, Teacher Angelia Ford, IV Exemplary
Jayden Ojeda, 12th Grade – Painting, Teacher Julia Freund, IV Exemplary
Savannah Miller, 10th Grade-Painting, Teacher Julia Freund, III Superior
Sanaa Hampton, 9th Grade- Book Arts, Teacher Julia Freund, III Superior
GUYER HIGH SCHOOL
Enrique Gutierrez, 12th Grade - Drawing, Teacher Tiffany Fitzsimmons, IV Exemplary-Gold Medal-All State Artist
Koki Shinhu, 11th Grade- Drawing, Teacher Tiffany Fitzsimmons, III Superior
Yuri Sung, 10th Grade-Drawing, Teacher John Mooney, IV Exemplary-Gold Medal- All State Artist
Eden Fitzpatrick, 11th Grade-Drawing, Teacher Tiffany Fitzsimmons, III Superior
Christin Park, 10th Grade- Colored Pencil, Teacher John Mooney, V Distinguished GOLD SEAL
RYAN HIGH SCHOOL
Emily Stanley, 11th Grade- Painting, Teacher Aimee Foutch, IV Exemplary
Olivia Kinard, 9th Grade, Colored Pencil, Teacher Aimee Foutch, State Qualifier
Hailey Belcher, 10th Grade, Drawing, Teacher Aimee Foutch, IV Exemplary
