Students display work at Archbishop’s Invitational Art Exhibit

by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — For Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, the annual Archbishop’s Invitational High School Art Exhibit is a time to appreciate our divine Creator.

“God is the divine artist and all of the creative world is really his artwork,” the archbishop said. “When you strive to capture and represent beauty through various forms of art, we are really imitating the divine Creator and participating in God’s creativity.”

Such creativity is on display in one of the hallways at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, through the end of April and was recognized at an awards ceremony on March 13.

Judging was based on creativity and artistic expression of the annual theme and technique, demonstrating the student’s ability in using the medium to achieve the desired outcome. This year’s judges were Donna Coleman, Donna Houtterman, Lesle Knop and Father Mark Mertes.

The theme this year was “Where Heaven Meets Earth” and eight total awards were given out.

Roeland Park’s Bishop Miege sophomore Mary Alice Solano took home the Archbishop’s Award and a first-place prize of $200.

Her pencil drawing called “Finally” shows a man and a woman resting on earthly ground and looking up at an angel from heaven.

She said the idea went through several drafts, with some help from Bishop Miege art instructor Michael Long.

“I’m good at face sketching and I had that idea from the beginning,” Solano said. “My art teacher Mr. Long helped me with my first draft, where I had the two people reaching to each other instead of lying down. But he told me something that I didn’t think of and that’s how I came up with the second draft, and I agreed that it looked good.

“I wanted to include the angel in the middle because with the two people, male and female, on the ground, it was my idea from the start for it to be where heaven meets earth.”

Lenexa’s St. James Academy senior Ella Zysk received the Popular Choice Award, as well as one of five Judge’s Awards. Her prizes totaled $300.

Her piece was an oil on canvas painting titled “Mary Mourns Her Son,” which depicts the Blessed Mother  reaching for the feet of Jesus on the cross.

“That piece was very significant to my relationship with Mary,” Zysk said. “It took a lot of time, and I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted to paint. But having that relationship with Mary is more important than other daily things and it’s really rewarding to see other people enjoy my work.”

St. James Academy junior Van Par took home the Superintendent Award and a $150 prize for her acrylic painting “Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”

Also receiving Judge’s Awards and $100 prizes were Bishop Miege senior Alessandra Ledesma; Overland Park’s St. Thomas Aquinas junior Emma Sajons; St. James Academy sophomore Joshua Kissel; and St. Thomas Aquinas senior Lauren McNally.

“This is a celebration of faith, creativity and the incredible talent of our students,” said Kirsten Wondra, associate superintendent of archdiocesan schools. “This event showcases not only artistic skill, but the beauty of storytelling through art inspired by faith and imagination.

“To our student artists, your work speaks for itself,” Wondra said. “But it is definitely an expression of faith, talent and dedication. Know that your creativity is a gift from God and a reflection of the divine spark within you.”

Archbishop Naumann hopes the students continue to glorify God and share him with others through their artistic works.

“Please continue to be imitators of the great Artist, our beautiful God, and continue to give him glory by using your gifts and talents to honor him and reflect the beauty of his creation to others,” he said.

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