Teen Spirit: Catch It!

Teenagers today were just newly born or soon-to-be back in 1991 when grunge band Nirvana released the generation-defining album, Smells Like Teen Spirit. They were but mere tots when the band’s angst-ridden lead singer Kurt Cobain left us in 1994.

But the spirit of the expressive teenager lives on. And right now, it’s the focus of a celebration at the Yeiser Art Center, 200 Broadway.

More than 150 artistic high school students submitted their work to the Yeiser Art Center’s 18th Annual Teen Spirit competition. The exhibit opened earlier this month with a rockin’ afternoon reception for the students, their families and their incredible teachers. The show and scholarships are underwritten by Jackson Purchase Energy Corp.

Teen Spirit was created in 1993 as a part of an ongoing effort to support the area’s art programs and to recognize the talented youth of the region. The show has become such a staple of high school art classes in our area that Yeiser Executive Director Michael Crouse simply sends a notice to art teachers in the fall reminding them of the show and the deadline. The teachers, then, deliver a variety of work for consideration.

This year’s jurors were Juanita Gilliam and Deb Lyons; both highly respected, retired art educators. For this year’s exhibition, they chose 94 works from more 500 entries representing a wide range of media and technique including sculpture, drawings and paintings, digital photography and video. Awards and summer art workshop scholarships were presented at the opening reception.

The show is on display through Feb. 8. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Several of the pieces are for sale – just ask for the price list.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

First Place: Bonnie Durrett, Community Christian Academy Practice Gear, charcoal drawing

School of Excellence: Lone Oak High School  
First Place: Bonnie Durrett (Community Christian Academy)
Second Place: JP Peyton (Community Christian Academy)
Third Place: Sarah McCracken (Reidland HS)
Honorable Mention: Tish Dawson (Calloway County HS)
Honorable Mention: Hunter Estes (Marshall County HS)
Honorable Mention: Hailey Hughes (Heath HS)
Honorable Mention: Quinn Lambert (Reidland HS)
Paducah School of Art Scholarship: Bonnie Durrett (CCA)
Paducah School of Art Scholarship: Crimson Jackson (RHS)
Murray Summer Program Scholarship: Alec Valerius (LOHS)
Murray Summer Program Scholarship: Lancia Gossett (PTHS)

This year’s participants are:

Second Place: JP Peyton, Community Christian Academy Boys of Summer, pastel

Calloway County High School
Miranda Bailey
Brandy Baker
Tish Dawson
Mia Gilpin
Lucas Morton
Lexie Watson
Nolan Yazzie
 
Community Christian Academy
Tim Cude
Bonnie Durrett
Clay Knight
Emilee Marsh
JP Peyton
Zach Sanderson
Alex Sharpe
Lauren Watson

Third Place: Sarah McCracken, Reidland HS Ladder, relief print

Heath High School
Alex Garcia
Angel Gibson
Josh Guess
Hailey Hughes
Dani Kern
Taylor Leperad
Shania Ross

Livingston Central High School
Adam Anderson

Lone Oak High School
Regan Carter
Abbi Clark
Elizabeth Conkwright
Sydney Duncan
Derek Estes
Emily Followell
Leah Grace
Casey Harbin
Veronica Harper
Jacob Hyde
Kathryn Moore
Clayton Tracy
Alec Valerius
 
Marshall County High School
Elizabeth Kunnecke
Hunter Estes
Ethan Walker

Massac County High School
Drew Bailey
Levi Brugger
Allison Canada
Audrey Eckenberg
Kaylee Johnston
Blake Schneider

Paducah Tilghman High School
Max Curry
Lancia Gossett
Katherine Harriford
Joseph Kelly
West Nichols
Cassandra Marthrel
Charity Ryan
Sierra Shaw

Reidland High School
Jazz Brady
Sami Brazzell
Amber Coleman
Nyleena Darnell
Crimson Jackson
Quinn Lambert
Sarah McCracken
Justin Roberts