2021 MAEA Recognitions Exhibit

Worcester Art Museum Voucher for Teen Class (Online or In-Person)
Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Paulina Derevyanko
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: Working from a still life I used a white pencil to create a reverse method drawing. I detailed the highlights first, then mid-tones, & then allowed the black paper to act as the shadows.

MAEA Art Educator Award
Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham Public Schools

Student Name: Ziyuan Zhang
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I mainly use pencils and colored pencils to paint it. The subject of this painting is a skeleton, but I incorporate some of my own ideas. I think that the skeleton does not completely mean death, it's like a kind of rebirth, so I added roses and butterflies and filled them with bright colors to express a kind of vitality. I like this artwork because it expresses my thinking about death and life.

Davis Publications Award
Organization or School Affiliation: Oliver Ames High School

Student Name: Samantha Keefe
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I created an expressive portrait that portrays emotions of fear and guilt. Using charcoal, I captured intense contrast and depth. I also paid attention to the light source, which comes from multiple directions as this takes place inside of a refrigerator and kitchen. I drew this piece because of my sweet tooth, and the temptation of the cupcake was just too much to resist!

Worcester Art Museum Voucher for Teen Class (Online or In-Person)
Organization or School Affiliation: Oliver Ames High School

Student Name: Emily Dionne
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: There are many small details within human interaction that convey meaning and display emotions. People show their gratitude in a variety of ways. My mother has always given me flowers at each of life’s milestones, but I rarely return the favor. As I gave her an intricate bouquet of flowers, I captured her look of surprise and gratitude in fine lines and the contortion of her face using charcoal.

Davis Publications Media Category Award:Drawing
Organization or School Affiliation: Wayland High School

Student Name: Sophie Simmons
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: This piece is a paper cut based on a photo I took of my two cats. As I scrolled through my camera roll, I just found this picture of my cats cuddling together in a cat basket and I knew it was the perfect basis for a piece. I had a lot of fun making it and I'm glad I followed through with the idea when it came along since my cats have brought me a lot of comfort during these times.

MAEA Art Educator Award
Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham Public Schools

Student Name: Maiia Bautina
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This observation drawing shows old dishes and things used in a kitchen in old Russia. I wanted to represent Russia in old and modern times, by expressing different aspects of my country. My goal was to make a compositionally successful artwork, show textures with different types of hatching and push values to make it more realistic and outstanding. I did my best and I’m very proud.

Art for All Award
Organization or School Affiliation: Waltham Public Schools

Student Name: Eileen Barrera
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: To give my family a surprise portrait of my little cousin, I used Prismacolors to make a semi-realistic portrait to convey a childish feeling. I realized it didn't look like him when I finished- it actually resembled my other cousin, whom I’ve never met. I’m glad I made this for my aunt who has no physical connection with her son in Guatemala. I'm happy this has given my family a closer bond

Organization or School Affiliation: GLOBAL ART ACADEMY by Meghartz

Student Name: Meghana Basi
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: For me, art making is after all an invention, but intending to reduce expectations and not focus on the outcomes so much. The outcomes are unpredictable, but that’s when you know, you are on the right track. I don’t keep a count of what type of materials in particular I gather whatever is around me, it’s almost as though it is meant for me to see it at that moment.

Organization or School Affiliation: Norwood High School

Student Name: William Morrisey
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: I went for a simple pose and expression to focus on the face itself and the values of it. The hat I am wearing in this is my favorite hat. I think the lightness of the hat looks good with my dark hair. I tried my best to make sure that each different part of the drawing had different values so it all stands out from each other.

Organization or School Affiliation: Norwood High School

Student Name: Samantha Gale
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and my shock that there are still so many gender issues present, especially for young women, I decided to create drawings that break down stereotypes of women who portray a significant adjective that is not often associated with women. This piece portrays confidence and uniqueness.

Organization or School Affiliation: Lowell Catholic

Student Name: Youna Oh
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: In the present world, numerous people spend endless time staring at their phones and distracting themselves from living in the real world. The boy standing on the subway station focuses on playing a game, not paying attention. Different vivid colors are shown in the background to represent the virtual reality. Modern people are reluctant to communicate and remain uncontacted.

Organization or School Affiliation: Lowell Catholic

Student Name: Abigail Moore
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: In my work, I like to create juxtaposing elements to help tell a story. With this piece, I wanted to use an object of innocence, such as a nun, and contrast that with something sinister. I chose to work with charcoal to create a black and white image to further emphasize the difference between these two themes.

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Kira Rancourt
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This is my interpretation of the serious impact deforestation has on the world. I used pencil because I wanted the work colorless, giving it a dark serious tone. The factory is the main focus, victoriously sitting atop the tree stump surrounded by a fallen forest, showing what takes the place of trees after they are cut down. I want my drawing to accurately portray this serious problem and spread

Organization or School Affiliation: Cardinal Spellman High School

Student Name: Eva Dzus
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: In midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is easy to feel like we are alone in our struggles. Virus statistics can be scary, but the Pandemic has also shown how strong people can be in fighting this challenge. This artwork was made to illustrate that we can always find goodness in our lives. I wanted to capture a sense of positivity during an adverse time.

Organization or School Affiliation: Silver Lake Regional High School

Student Name: Derick Wilson
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: My piece, inspired by Louise Nevelson's work with abstract sculptures, focuses on the light and dark forces in nature and how they collide with each other to create a balance that is necessary for reality to exist.

Organization or School Affiliation: Medfield High School

Student Name: Avery Ayer
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This drawing represents a trail I often walk in my hometown. By illustrating it, I hope to share a feeling of warmth, comfort, & nostalgia that others may feel about a significant place in their own lives.

Organization or School Affiliation: Manchester Essex Regional High School

Student Name: Olivia Renzi
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This work is a graphite and charcoal drawing of a necklace given to me by my dad. I used various techniques, such as line, to achieve the correct contrast. I began this work by experimenting with india ink, pen, and graphite. I chose graphite because of its control.

Organization or School Affiliation: Oliver Ames High School

Student Name: Tatum Perry
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: My piece is an up-close drawing of my father’s guitar. The composition is completed by scattered sheet music. It displays an approach to music, which can be seen in the reflection of my hand in the tuning keys. Using various colored pencils I created lines of different lengths and boldnesses to convey the depth of the wood grain, as well as marks to capture shadows and glares in the metal.

Organization or School Affiliation: Fairhaven High School

Student Name: Fiona Marques
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I wanted to portray an experience of a feeling. The feeling of "All Eyes on Me". Scrutiny, judgement, jealousy, shame, prejudice, bias, misunderstanding, hatred, envy... all the feelings that make one feel belittled, small and insignificant. As if one was prisoned in a box with a thousand onlookers.

Organization or School Affiliation: Falmouth High School

Student Name: Jaden Miranda
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece explores the unknown world of what goldfish may be dreaming about each night. Unlike you and me, goldfish dream about swimming above water in the atmosphere making them feel as light as a feather. In this piece, they are depicted whirling around above the stream while leaving all their worries behind in the water.