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FMBAA dishes out scholarships at show

By Staff | Apr 16, 2014

BOB PETCHER Chloe Lewis captured first place in the FMBAA scholarship show.

Three students from Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts received college Art tuition scholarships and checks from the Fort Myers Beach Art Association during the annual Student Scholarship Show Sunday afternoon.

The awarded Arts students were among 11 honored students from the Class of 2014 who displayed bodies of art at the FMBAA gallery. Three middle school students from Cypress Lake Middle School were also given ribbon awards and art supplies. The artwork will be displayed through Thursday, April 17.

“We want to thank the artists, parents and teachers for filling our gallery with this stunning array of talent,” said FMBAA member and show co-chairman Beverly Silvia.

Chloe Lewis took home a $1,500 college Art tuition scholarship plus a $175 check for capturing first place. Lacey Ringsmuth received $1,200 in scholarship money and a $125 check for taking second, while Indigo McDonald collected $1,000 in scholarship money and a $75 check for placing third.

The middle school art was also judged for the top three spots. Desmond Stack was the top vote getter for “Fashion Model,” while D.B. Lowden’s “Four Self-Portraits” was second and Megan Cleaver’s “Birdhouse Painting” was third.

BOB PETCHER Lacey Ringsmuth took second prize at the art excellence award ceremony

FMBAA member Anne Kittel, who has worked exclusively in water color and won awards in that medium, judged the works of art.

“I congratulate all of the students that have their work hung here and all of the teachers who have taught these students,” she said. “Each one deserves our praise and our thanks for submitting their work.”

In her biography, Lewis stated she has “emphasized contour drawing when illustrating the figure” and wants to “invest more time in the ability to distort the human figure in various media” including drawing, painting, ceramics, photography and computer graphics. Her long range career goal is to become a toy designer.

“Chloe’s whole body of work shows community and diversity, which are two of the building blocks for making a great composition,” said Kittel. “The whole exhibit all fits together as one composition. In looking at her work, each time you look at one painting, you are eager to look at what might be next.”

In her biography, Ringsmuth stated she is inspired by nature and people while trying to “incorporate reality and surrealism” in her art, which integrates photography, collage, oil pastel and other materials. She plans on attending a two-year local college, then transfer to an Art college of her choice and major in Photography or Graphic Design.

BOB PETCHER Indigo McDonald took third place for his body of work.

“About Lacey’s work, all the pieces show the same degree of talent and professionalism, as she shows originality and creativity in her compositions,” said Kittel. “I particularly admire how she made a common painting, a still life, look so interesting.”

In his biography, McDonald stated he has been involved in the Visual Arts Department at Cypress High for four years and is “particularly fond of standardized, easily reproducible techniques such as digitally produced works and more traditional printing mediums.” He plans on continuing his art focus at the college level and is currently concentrating in advertising while studying the Swiss graphic design style.

“His work is probably not what you want to call fine art,” said Kittel, “but it is all fine commercial art. He gives us something to think about. And, that is what good art does.”

Stack was the only middle school ribbon winner present at the awards ceremony. Kittel invited the shy boy to the front of the room to praise his work.

“It’s very professional and very good. I would have expected maybe someone older with more experience,” she said. “You did a wonderful job.”

Besides, Lewis, Ringsmuth and McDonald, the high school students who displayed work included Roxanne Barksdale, Maria Barquet, Emily Casey, Alexis Chandler, Ellie Gressman, Andie Kunkel, Ravella Raker and Victoria Rinella. Besides Stack, Lowden and Cleaver, the middle school art was presented by Emily Patnode, Katie Czahor, Rudy Varela-Bautista, Samantha Burg, Ally Russ, Juliana Jobin, Shelby Ernst, Leanne Fry, Coby Claypool, Amanda Oleska, Ericka Louden and Shauna Dworkin.

The Beach Art Association conducts the annual scholarship show to help further students’ education and encourage development of the Arts in the community. The show is supported financially through grants by the Town of Fort Myers Beach and by the year-long fundraising activities of the members of FMBAA.

“This is a culmination of everything we work on during the year,” said FMBAA president Joan Zeoli. “The funds and prizes you receive here today are the results of sales from special shows that we do specifically for the scholarships.”