STUDENT JURIED ART EXHIBITION

Three Norton High School students won People’s Choice Awards at the Mass Arts Center’s Spring Art Festival on June 1 & 2 for their artwork in the exhibit titled “The Future Is Now.” 

The exhibit opened and was judged by the public during the Mass Arts Center’s Spring Art Festival on the Reservoir on June 1st and 2nd, 2024. It continues inside the Morini Gallery, located inside the Mass Arts Center through June 22nd. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm, 888 South Main St., Mansfield, by appointment (508-339-2822), and is free to the public.

Taking the top People’s Choice prize was Julia Ng for her painting “Island Road.” Cailyn Buchanan won second prize with her painting “Autumn Colors,” and Emma Biron won third place with her painting “Curiosity through a Glass Tank.” Buchanan’s drawing “Carrion Crow” took the Curator’s Award as best in show. 

Students received gift certificates to Jerry’s Artarama, an art supply store in Providence, for their artwork. 

Artwork chosen for “The Future Is Now” exhibit:

“Beta,” Grace Binegar
“Curiosity through a Glass Tank,” Emma Biron (Third Prize)
“Carrion Crow,” Cailyn Buchanan (Curator’s Choice Award)
“Autumn Colors,” Cailyn Buchanan (Second Prize)
“Flowering Skull,” Lola D’Amore
“A Silent Symphony,” Lola D’Amore
“Orchard,” Emiliana Del Sesto
“Devoured Prey,” Jonah Ferraro
“Gone in the Wind,” Jonah Ferraro
“In the Pines,” Makayla Flynn
“Clifden Cows,” Makayla Flynn
“Blue Skull,” Madison Galante
“Study Buddy,” Daisy Harbour
“Flowers from Friends,” Daisy Harbour
“Glaring Gecko,” Ryan Krysko
“Bowne,” Melissa Neufell
“Lillian,” Melissa Neufell
“Island Road,” Julia Ng (First Prize & background image on this page)
“Melissa,” Julia Ng
“Mel-Bel,” Catherine Reiss
“Disassembled,” Lia Scagnoli

This Spring Art Festival was sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council and the local Cultural Councils of Attleboro, Easton, Mansfield, North Attleboro, and Sharon.

PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE EVENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2024

THREE NORTON STUDENTS WIN PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS AT SPRING ART FESTIVAL

MANSFIELD, Mass. — Three Norton High School students won People’s Choice Awards at the Mass Arts Center’s Spring Art Festival on June 1 & 2 for their artwork in the exhibit titled “The Future Is Now.”

Taking the top People’s Choice prize was Julia Ng for her painting “Island Road.” Cailyn Buchanan won second prize with her painting “Autumn Colors,” and Emma Biron won third place with her painting “Curiosity through a Glass Tank.” Buchanan’s drawing “Carrion Crow” took the Curator’s Award as best in show.

Students received gift certificates to Jerry’s Artarama, an art supply store in Providence, for their artwork.

All 21 pieces of student art by 14 artists are on display at the Morini Gallery (inside the Mass Arts Center, 888 South Main St., Mansfield) through June 22.

“We’re very proud of the students for getting their art completed and submitted in time for the show, said Dr. Todd Kefor, fine arts teacher at Norton High School. “These students put in the extra effort, and you can see it in the quality of their artwork.”

Morini Gallery Curator Heidi Cerullo thanked Dr. Kefor and Norton High fine arts teacher Robin Lewicki, emphasizing the importance of this event as a learning experience for young people, giving them a glimpse into the professional world of art. She commended the students for adhering to the submission process for a real juried gallery exhibition.

“We wanted this to be a learning experience for all of the young people,” Cerullo said. She encouraged them to continue creating art and thanked them for taking part. Cerullo and co-curator Glenn Fournier, a member of the Mass Arts Center board of directors, picked the Curator’s Choice winner.

“While I marvel at the artwork these kids have created, it reminds me how artistic expression plays such a crucial role in providing a creative outlet for young people to process their emotions and cope with the challenges they are facing, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic,” Cerullo said. “Creating art can convey thoughts and feelings in ways that otherwise may not have a healthy outlet. It is a personal place for self-expression, healing and wellbeing, a valuable tool during trying times.”

The Morini Gallery hosts a half-dozen free art shows a year at the Mass Arts Center, most of them juried like “The Future Is Now” exhibit.

The exhibition winners were chosen by the public. More than 200 people voted online for their favorite pieces, Kefor said.

The art exhibit was part of the Mass Arts Center’s free Spring Art Festival on the Reservoir, which made its return to Mansfield. It was the festival’s debut at the Mass Arts Center’s new home at 888 South Main St.

In addition to the student art, guests at the festival were treated to chalk art being created by noted Sharon-based graphic artist Alison Kellom. Over the course of the two days, she and artist Kristin Greenspan recreated the Alphonse Mucha 1896 illustration “Spring” in the MAC parking lot.

The two-day festival featured the works of local and regional artists and artisans, music from a variety of acts, and food trucks.

The event was sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council and the local cultural councils of Mansfield, Attleboro, Foxborough, North Attleborough, Norton, and Sharon.

The Mass Arts Center, formerly known as the Mass Music & Arts Society (MMAS), started in 1993, and is a cultural home for artists, audiences, and aspiring performers of all ages.

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The Mass Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, runs the Reservoir Stage, the Morini Gallery, and the Academy at Mass Arts, offering a wide array of artistic programs, performances, and opportunities for aspiring and experienced performers, artists, and patrons from across the region. Programs are supported with grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the MCC Facilities Fund and the local cultural councils of Mansfield, Attleboro, Foxborough, North Attleborough, Norton, and Sharon.