An artists’ reception was held May 5 at Bluffton Branch Library in Bluffton Village to recognize winners of the annual 8th Grade Juried Art Show.
Dr. Frank Rodriguez, superintendent of Beaufort County School District, was on hand to present the winners with their awards. Afterward, he spoke briefly to encourage students to continue pursuing their artistic passion.
Beginning April 1, 30 pieces of student artworks were on display at the library. The public was invited to vote for their favorite piece of art.
Those artworks had been juried by members of the Society of Bluffton Artists from all the student work submitted by art teachers at Bluffton’s five middle schools: H.E. McCracken, Bluffton Middle, Cross Schools, River Ridge and Hilton Head Christian Academy.
The SOBA judges also chose three pieces for Jurors Awards.
After the art was hung in the library, the public had an opportunity to view and vote for their favorite piece.
Rebecca Wohn of H.E. McCracken Middle won both the Jurors First Place and People’s Choice First Place awards.
Other winners were Campbell Daizell, Hilton Head Christian Academy, Jurors Second Place; Hanalyn Weitkamper, H.E. McCracken Middle, Jurors Third Place; Aviana Stevens, Bluffton Middle, People’s Choice Second Place; and Maggie Drury, Cross Schools, People’s Choice, Third Place.
The annual show was conceived and planned since 2015 by Art Gopalan, a Bluffton resident who wanted to showcase student art with the same enthusiasm given to students involved in sports.
