By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
When the VFW Auxiliary 9624 announced its Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest, two students at Rim of the World High School answered the call.
The artwork could have been either 2-D paintings and drawings or 3-D art, which in this case were pottery pieces created by Elena Russi and Forest Wall. The entries are judged on “originality of concept; presentation and patriotism expressed; content and how it relates to patriotism; clarity of ideas; design technique; total impact of work.”
The contest is open to all students enrolled in 9th though 12th grades. This scholarship contest was designed to recognize up-and-coming artists and encourage patriotism in youth. Students from any school or homeschool program in the area were encouraged to enter the competition.
Rim High School has an excellent art department and Rim students in both the visual art program and the pottery classes have submitted art pieces to this contest every year for at least the last five years. The local VFW Auxiliary has had an art piece win either the 2-D or 3-D divisions at the district level almost every year because of the excellent art program offered in the mountains.
Students Elena Russi and Forest Wall with VFW Auxiliary officers Paul Hartman, Laura McBride and Maureen Mann.
Winning second place and $100 was Elena Russi who created a three-piece artwork called American Legacy. Her inspiration was her uncle who was in World War II. He is now 80 years old, lives in Michigan and is going strong. He has not seen it yet, but he is excited by the photos he has seen. Elena will be sending it to him, soon. The three clay piece ensemble has a pith helmet, a canteen and a clay plaque of the Soldier’s Pledge, which she had to create one letter at a time and had to do several times, as it was difficult to get correct.
“It is a visual tribute, reflecting courage, resilience and strong national pride,” said Elena in her written submission that accompanies the art.
Winning first place both locally and at the district level is senior Forest Wall. He was presented a check for $125 and his artwork is being sent to the state for further competition. His clay piece named The Six is a statue Forest created representing the six men raising the flag on Iwo Jima during WWII. He had seen the famous photo of the flag raising in a textbook and it had stuck in his brain. When he heard about the contest, he was inspired by it and, in memory of his grandfather who fought in World War II, he set out to reproduce it in clay.
The figures with their arms and legs were the most difficult part as several broke in the production of the work, forcing many re-dos and it took over a month and a half to create. Forest is extremely proud of how it turned out.
“The Six represents physical effort, emotional strength and teamwork,” Forest said in his written submission.
Presenting the awards in Rim High teacher Jason Stehmeier’s classroom on April 28 were VFW Auxiliary President Paul Hartman and past VFW Auxiliary President and current Secretary/Treasurer Laura McBride. The state competition awards will be announced on May 15.
Jason Stehmeier, who has been teaching the pottery classes at Rim High for 20 years, is the grandson of George Stehmeier who had previously been the pottery and 3-D art teacher at Rim High for many decades. Jason Stehmeier has had many students enter this contest over the years and more often than not has had students who, after winning at the local level, go on to the state level for the larger scholarships. His wife, Morgan, is the Rim drawing and painting teacher; often their students are competing together in this contest although in different divisions. This year no 2-D art was submitted.
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