By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

When Kennebunk High School honors art foundations teacher Marnie Rollerson instructed her class to create a tea set with either slab or coil construction techniques, Alivia Gould had a unique response to a typical pottery assignment. The teapot took the shape of the number five and the two accompanying cups formed the number six and eight. 

“I’m really into math as well as art,” Gould, a freshman, said. “I also wanted to make something different — not something everyone else was going to make — and I wanted a different shape.”

Gould has received gold recognition through the Scholastic Art Awards for her tea set, entitled “Numbers,” which will be on display at Heartwood College of Art beginning in February. 

The Scholastic Art Awards, now in its 85^th year, invite high school students from all 50 states to submit artwork to regional affiliates to be juried by media and awarded with gold, silver or honorable mention recognition, Heartwood College of Art President Berri Kramer said. 

Heartwood College of Art is hosting the awards this year after Maine College of Art in Portland stopped hosting the awards last year. 

“It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s an honor to be affiliated,” Kramer said. 

Kramer had to attend training in New York for the jury process in order to learn how to review the 425 submissions received to judge and award 25 gold and 20 silver pieces that will be on display during the exhibit. 

Gould’s was one of about 30 submissions from Kennebunk High School students, and her classmate junior Sydney Shields has also received a gold award for her self-portrait, “Strawberries.”

Shields, who has increased the number of art classes she is taking this year, said Rollerson encouraged her to submit the self-portrait.

“Mrs. Rollerson told [the class] about the contest and mentioned it a couple more times. Then she told me she really wanted me to enter this piece,” Shields said. “I did not expect to get gold.”

“Strawberries” was also the result of a class assignment. Rollerson said she asked students to take photos of themselves using the Photo Booth application on her Mac Book, and then instructed them to enlarge the photo by drawing on a grid and using expressive colors. 

“We had to take pictures of ourselves with a specific emotion, so I just kind of bit my lip,” Shields said. “I wanted it to be different so I colored the background all black and used bright pastels to scratch out the details.”

Both Gould and Shields said they were surprised, as they did not anticipate receiving the highest level of recognition.

“For many kids, this is their first experience entering their art. They don’t assume they have something worthwhile to submit, so I was giving them a little push,” Rollerson said. 

Shields said she is glad Rollerson “gave her that push,” as she credits Rollerson for getting her “into art” again.

Heartwood College of Art, which is working toward developing a masters in fine arts program and currently offers undergraduate degrees in fine art and community evening classes, is now connected with high school art teachers and students throughout the state, Kramer said.

“I just believe that it is so important to encouraged the next generation of artists,” Kramer said. “Not all will go into art, but it helps to provide many layers of appreciation.” 

The exhibit will be on display between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Feb. 4 to Feb. 13 at Heartwood College.