East Henderson High student takes first place in Showcase of Excellence in Tryon

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
·2 min read
East Henderson's Gabriel won first place in the Photography/Digital Media category in the Showcase of Excellence in Tryon.
East Henderson's Gabriel won first place in the Photography/Digital Media category in the Showcase of Excellence in Tryon.

TRYON - The Tryon Fine Arts Center hosted the 2023 Showcase of Excellence, an annual competition that recognizes high school artists and visual arts instructors from Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, and one student from East Henderson High School was the lone first-place winner from N.C.

East Henderson student Gabriel Schlesinger's piece titled "Finally Returned" took first place in the Photography/Digital Media category at the Showcase of Excellence.
East Henderson student Gabriel Schlesinger's piece titled "Finally Returned" took first place in the Photography/Digital Media category at the Showcase of Excellence.

East Henderson's Gabriel Schlesinger was awarded the top spot in the Photography/Digital Media category for the piece titled "Finally Returned." Another East student, Emily Lopez, took second place in the Printmaking category for her work titled "The Tranquility."

According to a news release, the winners were announced at the opening reception on Feb. 4 in the JP Gallery located at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. There are 128 works of art currently on exhibit. Tryon Arts and Crafts School Executive Director Will Barclift served as juror for this year’s showcase, the release said.

The exhibit continues through Feb. 25, and gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, also 4-6 p.m. Fridays and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Listed below are the winners:

Best in Show

Recreation of “Portrait of the Artist Holding a Thistle” by Albrecht Dürer (Photography/Digital Media) by Veronica Glinyany, Dorman High School, under the instruction of Robert Urban and Austin Baker.

Photography/Digital Media

  • First place: “Finally Returned” by Gabriel Schlesinger, East Henderson High School

  • Second place: “City View” by Caleb Swafford, Spartanburg Christian Academy

  • Third place: “Childhood Fears” by Sophia Baugh, Spartanburg Christian Academy

Drawing

  • First place: “Abscond” by Antanina Kutsilina, Greer High School

  • Second place: “Beauty in Bloom” by Abigail Athelli, Greer High School

  • Third place: “Moonlight Reality” by Taylor Huff, Boiling Springs High School

Painting

  • First place: “Two-Faced” by Madelyn Laye, Dorman High School

  • Second place: “Cockfight” by Savannah Hicks, Chapman High School

  • Third place: “Self Portrait” by Linda De Angelo, Boiling Springs High School

Printmaking

  • First place: “Layers of Lilies” by Nicole Goodwin, Spartanburg Christian Academy

  • Second place: “The Tranquility” by Emily Lòpez Jóse, East Henderson High School

  • Third place: “Regrowth from Junk” by Drew Canada, Spartanburg Christian Academy

Mixed Media

First place: “Mama Bird” by Kaitlynn Starling, Dorman Freshman CampusSecond place: “Entrance” by Kaley Jackson, Chapman High SchoolThird place: “The Discovery!” by Maggie Beard, Thomas Jefferson Classical AcademyHonorable mention: “Old Becomes New” by Austin Mace, Polk County High School

Sculpture

  • First place: “Rose” by Aileen Ocampo, Dorman Freshman Campus

  • Second place: “Marilyn Mask” by Mia Johnson, Greer High School

  • Third place: “The Face of Klimt” by Madison Tucker, Greer High School

In addition, gallery visitors may vote for the People’s Choice Award to be announced at the closing of the show.Showcase of Excellence is made possible by Tryon Fine Arts Center – Arts Education andOutreach sponsors and donors Duke Energy and North Carolina Arts Council.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: East Henderson High student takes first place in Showcase of Excellence in Tryon