Kearney High School was host to the FKC Art Competition during conference basketball consolation and championship games last Saturday, February 3. Each school in the FKC conference was asked to bring their five best works from the year thus far to compete for plaques and ribbons. Students having their artwork on display at the tournament is considered a success on its own, with receiving a plaque or ribbon as the highest conference honor.
Five overall awards were presented in this year’s competition, given to works considered the best in the entire show, spanning all categories. Outside of the top five awards, first through third place were awarded in five categories: drawing, painting, sculpture, 2-D miscellaneous, and ceramics.
Student artists from the KCNI/KBBN listening area receiving awards included:
Best of Show
“Those Eyes” (Graphic drawing) by Kaydence Griffith, 10th grade, SEM
Reserve Best of Show
“Inferno” (Mixed media) by Alejandra Holguin, 11th grade, SEM
3rd Place Overall
“Thorny Devil” (Found object sculpture) by Wesley Fowler, 10th grade, Litchfield
4th Place Overall
“I Spy” (Found object sculpture) by Gracie Ritchie, 10th grade, Litchfield
2-D Miscellaneous 1st place
“I’m Trying” (Tempera on cardboard) by Diana Gentry, 10th grade, Litchfield
Sculpture 3rd place
“Lux Nova” by Cheyenne Wilcoxon, 10th grade, Ansley
Honorable Mentions
“Little Ranch Hand” by Gracie Ritchie, 10th grade, Litchfield
“Woven in Time” by Kaelyn Meyer, 11th grade, SEM
“Skull and Crow” by Addie Gibbons, 9th grade, Ansley
Both works in the top five overall for Litchfield students Wesley Fowler and Gracie Ritchie were part of a special sculpture project that is a bit of a tradition at the school. Students plan their projects, sketch them out a little, and then head to the home of John Kohls. A magnificent “scrap metal” pile finds its home on his farm in the country, which Kohls generously donates to any of the art students needing it for their project. After students dig in and discover metal that will help shape their sculpture, they take it back for cutting, grinding, and welding to make their masterpiece.
Litchfield art teacher Allison Varah commented, “I love doing the welded projects with my students. My Dad taught me to weld and I never knew that I would be able to use my knowledge of welding someday to make art. When I grew up it was a more practical use, my Dad is a farmer so he uses it to build parts he needs to improve and fix things around the family farm. It wasn’t until college that I realized it could be used for art. We work with John Kohls every year and it’s my favorite moment showing him what the kids have made from the scrap metal.”
Judging for the 2024 show was completed Saturday by UNK Professor of Art and Design Mark Hartman and renowned retired high school art teacher Daniel Garringer.
Full FKC Art Show Results:
Best of Show
“Those Eyes” (Graphic drawing) by Kaydence Griffith, 10th grade, SEM
Reserve Best of Show
“Inferno” (Mixed media) by Alejandra Holguin, 11th grade, SEM
3rd Place Overall
“Thorny Devil” (Found object sculpture) by Wesley Fowler, 10th grade, Litchfield
4th Place Overall
“I Spy” (Found object sculpture) by Gracie Ritchie, 10th grade, Litchfield
5th Place Overall
“Butterfly” (Drawing) by Ellaray Koch, 9th grade, Eustis Farnam
Drawing:
1ST: “Elephant” (charcoal) by Ben Trompke, 10th grade – Loomis
2nd: “I Can’t Breath” (graphite) by Addison Perry, 10th grade – Loomis
3rd: “Duck” (graphite) by Madison Berstrom, – Axtel
Painting:
1st: “Flower” (watercolor) by: Kailey Mata, 12th grade –Pleasanton
2nd: “The Player” (acrylic) by: Jonah Fisher, 9th grade – Loomis
3rd: “Senior Year” (acrylic) by Haylee Hueftle, 12th grade – Wilcox Hildreth
2-D Miscellaneous:
1ST: “I’m Trying” (tempera on cardboard) by Diana Gentry, 10th grade – Litchfield
2nd: “Sickness” (mixed media) by Kimberly Scarrow, 12th grade – Wilcox-Hildreth
3rd: “Piece of Heaven (mixed media) by Reagan Johnson, 11th – Wilcox-Hildreth
Sculpture:
1ST: “Frank of Gen Z” by Trace Brooks, 10th grade – Overton
2nd: “Chess…I guess” by Gavin Skrdla, 12th grade – Amherst
3rd: “Lux Nova” by Cheyenne Wilcoxon, 10th grade – Ansley
Ceramics:
1ST: “Icarus” by Adrian Seberger, 9th grade – Elwood
2nd: “My Family Crest” by Kara Brockman, 9th grade – Elwood
3rd: “Starry Night” by Adrianna Seberger, 9th grade – Elwood
Honorable Mentions:
“Sunset at the Lake” By: Aniston Peterson, 10th grade – ELWOOD
“Home” By: Morgan Ourada, 12th grade – AMHERST
“Dusk Forest Scene” By: Ashley Bauer, 12th grade – ELM CREEK
“Death within the Marigolds” by: Maxine Fickenscher, 12th grade – AXTELL
“Little Ranch Hand” by: Gracie Ritchie, 10th grade – LITCHFIELD
“Eleven” by: Eleanore Walters, 10 grade – EUSTIS FARNAM
“Woven in Time” by: Kaelyn Meyer, 11th grade – SEM
“Skull and Crow” by: Addie Gibbons, 9th grade – Ansley
A special thank you to Litchfield art teacher Allison Varah for helping with story information and continuing to be a strong art influence for local students.
