This spring, the Greater Flint community was invited to view the works of local art students at two special exhibitions hosted annually by the Greater Flint Arts Council.
Young Artists Today
Tri-County High School Art Show/Competition
The 2024 Young Artists Today Tri-County High School Art Show/Competition featured hundreds of original works by student artists from more than 20 high schools throughout Genesee, Shiawassee and Lapeer counties. Hosted by the Greater Flint Arts Council, the inspiring exhibit occupied the 4,000 square-foot gallery in Downtown Flint.
This year, 25 art instructors from 21 schools submitted 185 works created by 147 art students. The participating high schools included Almont, Atherton, Beecher, Bentley, Byron, Clio, Davison, Davison Alternative Education, E.A. Johnson (Mt. Morris), Fenton, Flint Southwestern Classical Academy, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Kearsley, Lake Fenton, Lakeville, Lapeer, Linden, Powers Catholic, Swartz Creek, and Youth Arts: Unlocked.
The works were judged by members of the Mott Community College staff from the School of Art, Design and Photography, with winners receiving awards and scholarships that were presented at an Opening Reception and ceremony held during the Flint ArtWalk on April 12.
“GFAC gives local artists and students of art an opportunity for self expression and community recognition,” stated Greg Fiedler, GFAC President and CEO. “The Young Artists Today regional students exhibition and the UM-Flint Student Art and Design Exhibition are staples with GFAC. To add to the excitement, we hire local musicians to play during studio exhibition receptions, giving them a chance to promote themselves and further diversifying GFAC’s involvement in the performing arts.”
GFAC extends special thanks to sponsor Mott Community College Art, Design and Photography Programs for their continued support. The top three winners received scholarships to MCC
for Art, Design or Photography courses. All winners received MCC art supplies and a student membership to Greater Flint Arts Council.
“Congratulations to all the participating students and instructors for an outstanding exhibit!” Fiedler added.
The awards were given as follows:
1st Place
AnnaLisa Hansen | Grade 12
Reflection, Acrylic Paint
Kearsley High School
Courtney Wolf, Art Instructor
2nd Place
Jasmyn Witt | Grade 12
Mocha, Acrylic Paint
Davison High School
Ryan Kelsey, Art Instructor
3rd Place
Bee Rodriguez | Grade 12
Serendipity, Prismacolor Pencils
Kearsley High School
Courtney Wolf, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Angelina Allie | Grade 12
Depiction of Innocence, Ceramic, Acrylic Paint
Lapeer High School
Sasha Patten, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Devon Bailey | Grade 11
Portrait, Oil Pastel
Lake Fenton High School
Tiffany Sudia, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Brooklyn Elizondo | Grade 12
How a Goth Gets Ready for the Portrait, Colored Pencil
Lapeer High School
Sasha Patten, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Emi Hanshaw | Grade 12
Untitled, Digital Art
Davison Alternative Education
Shawn Lewis, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Alana Riddell | Grade 12
A Doorknob’s Reflection, Water Color, Posca
Byron Area High School
Jamie Anderson, Art Instructor
Honorable Mention
Lena Velliquette | Grade 11
Horses, Acrylic Paint
Davison High School
Ryan Kelsey, Art Instructor
Teacher Award
Courtney Wolf
Kearsley High School
UM-Flint Annual
Student Art & Design Exhibition
This year’s exhibition was the 34th annual tribute to the accomplishments of many talented student-artists in the University of Michigan-Flint Art and Design Department.
The project invites all art faculty to select five works to feature from each of their classes. This year’s participating staff included Alla Dubrovich, Cristen Velliky, Rebecca Ziess, Christian Gerstheimer, Amy Davis and Benjamin Gaydos. “The work ranges from fine art including painting, photography, drawing, ceramics and sculpture to design including video and media design, graphic design and interaction design,” explained Ben Gaydos, Associate Professor of Design, UM-Flint.
Joining in celebrating the next generation of artists, the Greater Flint Arts Council hosted the exhibition, their Downtown Flint gallery space overflowing with hundreds of the chosen works. An Opening Reception and awards ceremony was held at GFAC just prior to the May 10 ArtWalk, with the collection of works remaining on exhibit there through June 7.
“For 25 years, we have looked forward to our role in this show,” commented Greg Fiedler, GFAC President and CEO. “The student work is creative and stimulates our imaginations. We hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.”
Guest Juror for this year’s exhibition was multi-award-winning artist, photographer and 2019 Kresge Arts Fellow, Rashaun Rucker. The following student-artists were recognized for their achievements:
| Best in Show | Rae-Ahna Hernandez |
| Overall Achievement | Catie Cunningham |
| Juror’s Choice | Kennedy Charette |
| Dean’s Choice | Rae-Ahna Hernandez |
| Provost’s Choice | Stephanie Bennett |
| Chancellor’s Choice | Paige Cronce |
| Outstanding Civic Engagement | Megan Pellegrini, Micah Mitchel, Jeremiah Riley, Gage Heiser and Jacey Kellaway |
| Martin Anderson Printmaking Award | Faith Butler |
| Excellence in Photography | Megan Pellegrini |
| Excellence in Video/Media | Damien Crowe |
| Excellence in Interaction Design | Rachel Landes |
| Excellence in Graphic Design | Brie Root |
| Excellence in Sculpture | Isabella Mellish |
| Excellence in Ceramics | Ciara Bowers |
| Excellence in Painting | Rae-Ahna Hernandez |
| Excellence in Drawing | Susan Shaw |
About GFAC
Located in the heart of Downtown Flint, GFAC is a regional non-profit and regranting agency for Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, currently regranting in Genesee and Lapeer Counties. The organization supports many other services for the arts, from arts information services through newsletters, to providing new artists with both rehearsal space and a community voice heard by everyone up through the national government. GFAC is also a presenter of the arts, producing annually many exhibitions, concerts, festivals and events.
