Artists and musicians from all schools in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference spent the day in Jefferson when Greene County hosted the HOIAC Fine Arts Festival last Thursday.
Art was displayed at the Greene County Community Center. The art was judged by Diane, Kelly and Mike Kunzler of Kunzler Studios in Des Moines.
A Greene County student’s art was selected as “Best of Show” for the second straight year. Ethan Heuser, a freshman, received the coveted honor for his self-portrait in oil. David Pedersen, class of 2016, won the honor at last year’s show.
Greene County junior Sarah Erickson won the Student Choice Award for her Monet study.
Art students won a total of 30 blue ribbons in various categories as follows:
- Oil painting – Faith Davis, Sarah Erickson, Sophie Havens, Mercedes Butterfield
- Acrylic painting- Kristal Morales (two ribbons)
- Tempera painting – Kaitlin Tjostem
- Textiles and crafts – Nolan Rocky) Ford
- Wheel-thrown ceramics – Jenna Ferguson, Kristal Morales, Zoe Joy, Ben Wilkins
- Hand built ceramics – Cheyenne Exline, Jenna Ferguson, Emily Bettey, Regan Williams
- Charcoal drawing – Trey Hinote (two ribbons), Cheyanne Exline, Caitlin Dickson
- Pastel drawing – Sophia Ausberger, Cheyenne Exline, Mercedes Butterfield
- Watercolor – Liz Orfield
- Mixed media – Jenna Ferguson, Faith Davis, Caitlin Dickson
- Colored pencil – Mercedes Butterfield, Kristal Morales
- Photography – Kara Betts
Dr Ben Carson of Coe College in Cedar Rapids directed the honor band. Chair placement was pre-determined by the school directors. Greene County students in the band were Courtney Johnson, Tiffany Wasson, Linsey Kitt, Theda Zills, Noah Von Stein, Jordan Davis, Janelle Brophy, Claire Teusch, Cody Gilbertson, Trystan Post and Devin Ross.
Allen Chapman, retired choir director from Fort Madison, directed the honor choir. Greene County students in the choir were Kenna Marquardt, Maddie Schroeder, Hannah Promes, Nadia Fisher, Emily Heupel, Kara Betts, Connor Sims, Jacob Hanson, Michael Kennedy, Edwin Lenchanko, Jack Schilling and Arthur Bardole.
The honor band and honor choir performed a concert in the middle school gymnasium Thursday evening.
While the musicians rehearsed during the day, art students visited RVP~1875, Meythaler Photography, the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower and the courthouse. The students then had a special showing of the movie “Waste Land” at the Sierra Community Theatre. “Waste Land” chronicles artist Vic Muniz, who travels to the world’s largest landfill outside Rio de Janeiro, and collaborates with waste pickers to transform refuse into contemporary art.
According to high school art teacher Sarah Stott, the students were impressed with everything Jefferson has to offer.
