The Crookston High School Visual Arts Department has competed extensively over the years, with each year seeing three to four competitions. Last year, only the Moorhead State Art Show was able to host students and artwork. All other opportunities were canceled, moved, or altered.
The Minnesota State High School League Visual Arts Festival was able to host a virtual version of the Region 8A Art Show this spring, thanks to Warroad High School stepping forward. Normally the show is hosted in mid-March. This year’s version was held the week of May 17.
Crookston High School submitted 13 entries. In every category, one piece is chosen from the Region for the “Spotlight in the Arts” Award, which means best of show in that category. This work and students are then forwarded on to the state level to the MSHSL Visual Arts Exhibit (which was canceled this spring due to COVID).
One student from Crookston received an Excellence award, while 12 received Superior ratings. Three pieces received perfect scores with Anke Wiersma earning two perfect scores, and Ava Lopez receiving the other.
Four pieces, made by three students, won the Spotlight in the Arts Award, which means that the judge chose these pieces as the best entry in the given category. Blaine Andringa’s drawing, entitled “Self-Portrait,” Ella Weber’s self portrait, and Anke Weirsma’s “zelf portret” and “Bloom” won the Painting and Printmaking categories respectively.
Crookston outdistanced the competition in impressive fashion. Crookston had 12 entries rate as Superior, while the second and third place schools had six and four pieces respectively rank at the same level.
Students, categories, and titles are listed below:
Seniors
Catherine Tiedemann – Ceramics – The Hive Pot
Ella Weber – Ceramics – Self-Portrait
Cam Weiland – Crafts – Broken
Anke Wiersma – Painting – Zelf Portret
Anke Wiersma – Sculpture – Bruised Ego – perfect score
Anke Wiersma – Printmaking – Bloom – perfect score
Juniors
Blaine Andringa – Drawing – Self Portrait
Blaine Andringa – Sculpture – Recycling the Past to Make the Future
Emily Balboa – Sculpture – Pure Serenity
Ava Lopez – Sculpture – The Art of Engineering – perfect score
Alexia Threatt – Painting – The Sand is Brown
Alexia Threatt – Painting – A Stampede of Color
Sophomores
Carly Brown – Ceramics – Untitled Pottery
