These high school students have been nominated in the specialties of sculpting and metalwork, 3D mixed media, and ceramics.
From a list of 33 nominees, the following 7 students have been named as semi-finalists for the 2018 Artist of the Year in 3D visual arts. The students were chosen by a panel of teachers based on written statements, art portfolios and artistic résumés.
Included are links to their work, the specialty in which they were nominated, and quotes about how they relate to their craft.
3D visual artists have been nominated in the specialties of sculpting and metalwork, 3D mixed media, and ceramics.
During the final round of adjudication, students are interviewed by a panel of distinguished artistic professionals and faculty members from Southern California universities as well as a few representative high school teachers. Interviews include a live presentation by the students followed by a question-and answer-session.
One finalist in each specialty will be named and from those finalists, one Artist of the Year in each of the seven disciplines – theater, dance, instrumental music, vocal music, film/animation, 2D visual art and 3D visual art – will be chosen.
The 2018 Artists of the Year will be announced on April 22.
The Artist of the Year program is presented in partnership with the Register, Orange County Music and Dance, and the Orange County Department of Education.
Support from the partners as well as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the Angels Baseball Foundation, and Allied Medical will help to provide cash awards for the students and their schools’ arts programs. If you would like to support the Artist of the Year program, contact Heide Janssen at heide@ocmusicdance.org
Jane Huynh, senior, Mater Dei High School
Specialty: ceramics
https://jane-art.weebly.com/
“I want my work to reach people. It’d be a dream come true to own a small business, my own studio, and put my work out to the world. Although I started out doing sculptural work, I’ve moved toward functional pieces that still maintain a narrative. I want to make things that will actually be used (plates, bowls, cups, etc.), and for them to stand out and be noticeably handcrafted.”
Hannah Kantoris, senior, El Toro High School
Specialty: sculpting and metalwork
https://www.instagram.com/hkantoris_artportfolio/
“My artwork consists mostly of figurative mixed media ceramics sculptures. I pull a lot of inspiration from nature and living organisms. I enjoy creating pieces that are realistic or look lively.”
Jung Min Lee, senior, Crean Lutheran High School
Specialty: 3D mixed media
https://jungminlee99442.wixsite.com/mysite
“I see that artists possess a unique power to enact change. An artist can shift perspective and truly inspire others to think differently. Influencing others must take priority when we live in a society now where it seems like we let others or things do that for us. Artists have always had a voice to speak and connect with their audience.”
Samantha Lopaz, senior, Marina High School
Specialty: ceramics
https://slopaz100.wixsite.com/ceramics
“It wasn’t until about five years ago that art had really begun to take a major role in my life. I remember walking into an art supply store with my cousins, all of whom are artistically talented, and walking out with a few drawing utensils of my own. Before this moment I had never considered myself as someone who would be capable of being an ‘artist’ yet I began to discover my love for creating images, specifically images of people, through the work of a pencil.”
Masey Park, senior, Valencia High School
Specialty: ceramics
https://maseypark.wixsite.com/mysite
“I started ceramics in September 2016 and immediately I was hooked. I loved being able to create anything I wanted within the limits of the type of project we were making. Being able to use my hands to mold and shape things with clay amazed me.”
Roger Penske, senior, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Specialty: sculpting and metalwork
https://roger-penske.squarespace.com
“My goal has been to make a stationary object flow through space, while still being captured by a single two-dimensional photograph. I want to become an artist who can make a mark on society that evolves the way people look at images or three-dimensional art pieces. If one single art piece can make an audience wonder how or what is being developed, then I have succeeded.”
Jiayi Xu, senior, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Specialty: 3D mixed media
https://cassiexu0705.wixsite.com/portfolio
“My ultimate goal is to apply art and design to facilitate and improve people’s lives. For example, art, illustration, and clever design could improve the time people who live in urban cities spend riding public transportation. I want to create this kind of functional artwork that not only works aesthetically, but also adds more vitality to repetitive lives.”
