Featured image: Sarah Stair (right) of Batesville High School earned the first-place award in Lyon College’s Batesville Area Young Artists (BAYA) competition for her oil painting titled “Sailing in the Blue.” Pictured with Sarah is Batesville High School art teacher Debra Smith. Image provided by Lyon College.
Young artists, family members, and faculty from area school districts recently joined Lyon College students, faculty, staff, and arts patrons in the Kresge Gallery for a reception honoring participants in the Batesville Area Young Artists (BAYA) juried competition sponsored by Lyon College.
The BAYA event is the first community exhibition of its kind on campus, said Dustyn Bork, professor of art, Kresge Gallery director, and BAYA organizer, in a release from Lyon College.
Bork and Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Abigail Smithson and Dean of Admissions Tommy Newton made the awards presentations.
Sarah Stair of Batesville High School earned the first-place award for her oil painting, “Sailing in the Blue.” Darcie Taylor of Cave City High School took second place for her ceramic piece, “Pua.” Third place went to Maysun Ring of Southside Charter High School for her pen and ink drawing, “Dead Men Walking.”
Kaitlyn Roberts received an honorable mention for her colored pencil-on-paper drawing, “Pacman Frog on Wood.” Audrey Clayton of Southside Charter High School also received an honorable mention for her scratchboard piece, “Tammie.”
All submissions were juried by Mountain Home artist and guest juror Dusty Mitchell. The first-place winner received a cash prize of $300, while the second and third-place winners received $200 and $100, respectively. Honorable mentions were awarded $50 art gift cards. In addition to the cash prizes, the top five winners were rewarded with Lyon College Art Scholarships of up to $500 per year.
The exhibition is open to the public through Friday, Aug. 4, providing ample time for art enthusiasts and visitors to witness the creative expressions of these young artists. The release said the exhibit is “…a fantastic opportunity for these students to showcase their skills and gain recognition for their hard work.”
The Kresge Gallery is in the historic Alphin Humanities Building at Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays during the summer. Admission is free.
For more information about BAYA or the Lyon College Art program, contact Dustyn Bork at dustyn.bork@lyon.edu.
To see more photos from the event, visit the Lyon College Facebook page by clicking here.
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