Teen Artists Awarded for Noguchi-Inspired Artwork

Over 125 students from La Porte County submitted art projects to the La Porte County Public Library Teen Art Competition. Students had the option to craft a sculpture, a painting or a landscape architect/playground design. Projects drew inspiration from Isamu Noguchi, one of the most influential artists of the 20^th Century who made his start in La Porte. The theme for this year’s competition was “Summer Under the Stars”.

Judges selected three finalists who were awarded cash prizes, as well as ten Honorable Mention awards who were presented with the book The Noguchi Museum: A Portrait, generously donated by the Friends of Noguchi.

The following students won top prizes:

1^st Place: Guadalupe Camacho - 9th Grader at La Porte High School

2^nd Place: Gwen Hanell – 12^th Grader at La Porte High School

3^rd Place: Brittani Heath – 12^th Grader at La Porte High School

Camacho won for her sculpture titled “Mother & Child”, which comprised tissue paper, plaster craft and cardboard.

“The red represents the blood and love the mother and child share,” Camacho wrote in her artist statement. “Slight bronze detail and green, grassy base to signify the grounding a mother has.”

Hanell’s sculpture “Furry Friend”, which won second place, was constructed with wooden reeds, gossamer, hot glue and string lights, representing an animal.

Heath’s sculpture, which received third place, was titled “Bath Time” and was constructed with wooden reeds, tissue paper, hot glue and rubber ducks.

“My class learned about Noguchi and his work one day, and I was inspired by how unique his lanterns were,” Heath wrote in her artist statement. “It was his spherical lanterns that reminded me of bubbles in a bathtub.”

The first-place prize was awarded $500; second place won $250; third place won $100, which was generously donated by the Friends of Noguchi.

The following students won Honorable Mentions for their work:

Nolan Bockhorst – 12^th Grader at La Porte High School

Megan Carmickle – 18-year-old at Westville High School        

Autumn Chappell – 15-year-old at Westville High School                                                         

Maddie Cole – 15-year-old at Westville High School     

Emi Hannon – 17-year-old at Westville High School       

Anastasia Joseph-Greenwade – 11^th Grader at La Porte High School           

Julia Kozub – 17-year-old at Westville High School       

Eden McLean – 14-year-old at Westville High School

Amayah Parker – 17-year-old at South Central High School

Brooke Skalka – 16-year-old at Westville High School                                      

Prizes were awarded at the Teen Artist Reception on Noguchi’s birthday last Friday, November 17 at the LPCPL Exchange.

Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres from Café Trilogy while viewing the variety of sculptures, dioramas and paintings lining the first floor of the Exchange.

Artwork from the three finalists is still on display at the Exchange and will be until the end of the week.