by Rebecca Dawson
M’CHIGEENG—The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) art show, Artastic Fusion, was held recently during graduation to showcase the talent of MSS students. Artastic Fusion is an annual juried art show held at MSS that incorporates an end of the year display of high school art as well as work from student workshops and theme contests that have run throughout the year.
This year Artastic Fusion had over 30 pieces of artwork, ranging from 3D creations such as stained glass work and ceramics to sketches, paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media pieces.
One goal of the Artastic Fusion committee is to incorporate student workshops throughout the year that introduce students to the expertise and work of local artists. This year’s art program focused on graffiti style workshops as well as a series of stained glass workshops. The show’s main goal is to showcase up-and-coming Island artists and encourage them to pursue post-secondary art.
The La Cloche Art School sponsored the event this year, providing a two-day enrollment in their annual art retreat for both the first and second place winners. Prizes of $75, $50, and $25 were also presented for the three best pieces of art submitted to the judges. Building on last year’s success, the winner of the Viewer’s Choice award received a prize of art supplies. The Viewer’s Choice is picked by the student population as well as guests visiting the school during the graduation ceremony on June 9. The award of Best 3D Creation was a new award this year and this year’s recipient also received art supplies.
Artastic Fusion awards are judged based on originality, skillfulness, technique, creativity and presentation. Only original works achieve top awards. The added bonus this year was that the Willisville Art School again offered up another week’s worth of summer school to winning participants. This year’s Willisville participants will be Rebecca Dawson and Thomas Wiwchar.
Winners of the Artastic Fusion art show were: Best of Show and $75, Rebecca Dawson for ‘Field of Colour Best in Show;’ second place and $50, Tommy Wiwchar ‘Sunset Inlet;’ third place tie and $25 each, for Daniel Chapman ‘Wish’ and Joey Janoki ‘Mad Mad Moon.’ The award of Best 3D Creation was given to Gabby Janoki for her piece ‘Seaside Ceramic.’ Viewer’s Choice awards went to Kayla Hughson for her acrylic abstract piece ‘Tranquility.’
Honourable Mentions went to: Michael Quackenbush ‘Gnomes,’ Maylan Moffat ‘Spirit Howl,’ April Torkopoulos ‘Wise Old Tortoise,’ Jadah McGraw ‘Synactic,’ Robin Genereux ‘Alien 1,’ Adrianne Leblanc ‘J. Cole,’ Cheyenne Barnes ‘A Happy Day’ and Daniel Chapman ‘Graffiti Fist.’
Prizes were awarded to winners of the various theme contests that were also run throughout the year. The themes this year were: “A Different Side of Me,” “Alienation,” and “The view from a treestand.”
MSS Theme contest winners, senior, for “Alienation” was Thomas Wiwchar. First place in the junior division was April Torkopoulos for “A Different Side of Me.” Elementary schools are always welcome to participate in the theme contests.
Artists interested in contributing to next year’s workshops should contact Mrs. Wesno at Manitoulin Secondary School.
