von Liebig Art Center

High School Students Win College Scholarships from Naples Art Association

Digital Media Artist Laurence Gartel / Guest Juror

(NAPLES) – The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center is pleased to announce that six local high school students have each won a $1,000 scholarship to pursue art studies in college. The winners were selected from artwork submitted to the association’s 37th annual Jade N. Riedel Scholarship Competition.The awards were announced during the Opening Preview Reception on April 11. Eighty-one works were were submitted from students at the following high schools: Barron Collier, Community School, Golden Gate, Gulf Coast, Lely, Naples, Palmetto Ridge, and International Learning Academy. Forty-nine works were selected for the exhibition that runs through April 27 at the art center, 585 Park St. in downtown Naples. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. The exhibition and awards were sponsored by IAG Galleries and the Naples Art Association Board of Directors.

Internationally-known digital media artist Laurence Gartel served as juror. Said Gartel, "The work at The von Liebig displays tremendous variety, concentration and professionalism. It was hard to choose the precise winners. However, it becomes obvious where intricacy and talent fuse. It is a true enrichment to see the art of young people dedicating themselves to the continuum of beauty and to the larger scope of culture. I salute and congratulate the winners and those that encourage all artists to forge ahead."

The scholarship winners are:

Jennell Gates, a senior at Naples High School, for her photograph “Fill My Shoes”
Katherine Kocses, a senior at Gulf Coast High School, for her ceramic “Tape Lady”
Andy Martinez, a senior at Golden Gate High School, for his ceramic “Mr. Grim”
Matthew McCartney, a junior at Naples High School, for his digital art “Guitar Landscape”
Lorena Rozo, a senior at Gulf Coast High School, for her acrylic “Death of a Sponge”
Kristin Vickery, a senior at Gulf Coast High School, for her graphic “Masquerade”

ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION

In 1971, members of the Naples Art Association initiated a scholarship program designed to encourage young aspiring artists to realize their dreams of becoming professionals in the visual arts. Since then, awards have been given annually by the NAA to Collier County high school students in conjunction with an exhibition of their work. Junior and senior high school students in Collier County, who are interested in furthering their art studies at the college level, eagerly participate in this competition for scholarships that help to defray student tuition costs for art courses at the college level.

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