TWENTY-four budding visual artists from the American International School of Kingston (AISK) swept the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) visual arts competition on March 29, earning the Summit Award for the Top School.

Twenty-one of the 24 students received merits for their entries, while the other three medalled in their age divisions. Their teachers/coaches, Denise Robinson and Betty White, shared the Top Teacher award, walking away with $30,000 each.

Fourteen-year-old Danielle Cross received the highest honour of her schoolmates, tying for the coveted Youth Promise Prize trophy, and taking the silver medal with her mixed media sculpture Power, which depicted the dominance of one class of people over another.

“After painstaking work, I thought my piece was worth at least an ‘A’ in class. I never imagined getting awarded, much less twice for it!” said Cross.

“I am overjoyed and will always remember this as the moment that art really connected for me. Hopefully this will continue for the rest of my life,” she added.

Seven-year-old Jude Johnson earned a bronze medal for his chalk pastel piece ‘Red Face Child’, which depicted the emotions of a screaming child, while 11-year-old Zachary Duncan’s mixed media piece ‘Jonkunnu’ secured a bronze medal.

The merit-award winning students were Jayden Gill, Jelissa Morgan, Perry Liu, Jacob Scott, Mila Chang, Erhan Burie, Dylan Barrett, Anna Arghiros, Joel Liu, Samantha Mahfood, Alexia Boothe, Bianca Browne, Diallo Richardson, Taylor Hugh-Sam, Antonio Garson, Christine O’Brien, Jan Messerli, Blake Cooper, Adrienne Lee, Emma Haddad and Claire Schwapp.

Head of School Shirley Davis remarked: “We encourage our students to compete at a national level so that they can be exposed to and learn from the wealth of talent in Jamaica. We are extremely proud of our young artists, as we aim to nurture students who are not just well-rounded, but who excel.”

Elementary level art teacher Betty White spoke to the value placed on art at AISK.

“As non-verbal language, art is a vital part of communication and plays an invaluable role in how students learn in all areas. I am so glad that AISK recognises the value, starting its art programme from early childhood,” she said.

“Encouraging students to participate in the JCDC competition fosters cultural awareness and helps them develop a sense of pride and appreciation of their creative abilities,” she added.

AISK is steadily building a reputation as a leader in the visual arts, having earned numerous merits and medals in 2012, including the Summit Award and Top Teacher Award in 2013.

Newly awarded model teacher Robinson noted how the competition sparked enthusiasm in her classes. “Our students are encouraged to engage with art with the same passion and vigour as they do their other classes. Strong emphasis is also placed on making art with meaning and function, integrating the deeper purpose of art as a vehicle that allows them to connect to others. The added element of national level competition motivates them to give of their best, and this attitude shows in their performance,” she said.