Staff Writer
STACYVILLE — Katahdin High School hosted the annual district art contest and exhibit Sunday.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
WINNER — Rikki Kimball, center, earned fifth place in the District Art Contest and Exhibit held May 4. He competed against high school students from Hermon, Old Town, Bangor and Hampden to win the award. The contest was sponsored by General Federated Woman’s Clubs. Pictured here, from left, are: Patten Woman’s Club President Glenda Whitney, Kimball and General Federated Woman’s Club President Lillian Zanchi.
The contest, which included student artists from Katahdin High School, Hermon High School, Bangor High School, Old Town High School and Hampden Academy, was organized by the District 5 General Federated Woman’s Clubs (GFWC). The clubs include: the Patten Woman’s Club, the Patawa Club, the Old Town Woman’s Club and the Winterport Woman’s Club.
Prizes were awarded to the top five finishers, judging by originality, creativity and use of their medium. Winners were: Mary Callaway of Old Town High School, first place; Chelsea White of Hermon High School, second place; Emily Dubovy of Bangor High School, third place; Ashley Privett of Hampden Academy, fourth place; and Rikki Kimball, a homeschooled student from Sherman, fifth place.
Other local students competing included Damien Smith, Jenna Pelkey and Micah Rodgerson, all of Katahdin High School.
The May 4 program opened with a welcome from Patten Woman’s Club member Eve Rice and included music from the Katahdin High School choral students, under the direction of Bonnie Cox, and the school’s jazz ensemble under the direction of Mike Hutchinson.
Lillian Zanchi, GFWC district president, was the event’s special speaker.
“The talent exhibited here is incredible,” she said. “And I’m proud to be part of a group that takes such an interest in student art. … Too often the value of participating in the arts is under appreciated.”
Zanchi encouraged the students to pursue their artistic interests.
“Pursue your dreams and continue to explore the possibilities your talents will open up to you,” she said.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
CHORUS — Megan Guiggey and Amber Charette, members of the Katahdin High School chorus, under the direction of Bonnie Cox, sing “Dust in the Wind” during the May 4 District Art Contest at Katahdin High School.
After prizes were awarded and certificates presented to all participants, judge Sherri Skinner-Hart talked about what made each piece stand out to the judges. She called the detail in Kimball’s wood burning of a dog “unbelievable.”
“You can see every hair,” she said. “It’s so realistic.”
Other judges for the event were Peggy Engroff, Rose and George Merrow and Jutta Beyer.
After the program, 15-year-old Kimball said he’s been doing wood burning for about a year now.
“Originally, I was just sketching with pencil on wood,” he explained. “And someone suggested I give wood-burning a try.”
He said some of his bigger pictures can take up to six hours to complete; other smaller pictures are closer to two or three hours in the works.
Kimball is the son of Melanie and Lou Lainey of Sherman.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
SOLO — Jesse Chaloux performs a trumpet solo with the Katahdin High School Jazz Ensemble during Sunday’s District Art Show at the school.
