Contest Winners

ROCKWELL MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART EXHIBITS STUDENT ART CONTEST WINNERS

August 5, 2003

Who are the Iroquois? Elementary and middle school students know they were the dominant culture of this region for hundreds of years. They lived in longhouses, in harmony with nature. They depended on nearby lakes and streams for food and transportation. They placed women at the center of community and family life. All this learning, creatively interpreted by students from around the region, is on display in a special exhibition of student art at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, now through August 31.

The exhibition features winners of the 2003 Rockwell Award for Western Art. This is one of several student art exhibits mounted each year in the museum's Education Gallery. From July 1 through Labor Day, the museum is open for summer hours, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This year's Best of Show award belongs to Lindsay Wilson of Severn Elementary for her drawing of an Iroquois figure surrounded by symbols of the Iroquois culture. The People's Choice award was given to Cory Stafford of Broadway Middle School. Jessica Blair and Morgan Reid of Severn Elementary School won Honorable Mentions. Other award winners are: Morgan Cranmer, Kellee Madsen, Rebecca Olson, Thomas Roe, Ryan Schwartz, Matt Trifoso, Kelly Van Etten, and Tevin Whitt, all fourth graders at Severn Elementary School in Corning; Kelsy Fahy, a fourth grader at Gregg Elementary School in Corning; Cassie Woodard and Michael Slater, fourth graders at Cohen Elementary School in Elmira Heights; and Emily Dryburgh, Steven Nickerson, Nicole Stanton, Derek Swartz, and Sarah Walborn, seventh graders at Broadway Middle School in Elmira.

The Rockwell Award for Western Art was created in honor of the museum's founding donor, Robert F. Rockwell, to recognize student art and artists from the surrounding community. A long-time collector of western art, Rockwell has a deep appreciation for the artists and the role they played in describing life on the American frontier. The Rockwell Award encourages students to continue that tradition. "The Award offers students an opportunity to explore America's cultural history through art," says Cindy Weakland, Director of Public Programs for the museum. "It's one way the museum demonstrates its commitment to education and to supporting the arts in the community. At the same time, it allows us to say thanks to Bob Rockwell for his many contributions over the years."

For this year's contest, the museum invited students in 4th and 7th grades to submit art that answered the question, "Who are the Iroquois?" The museum sent letters of invitation explaining the Rockwell Award to all area elementary and middle school art teachers, 4th grade classroom teachers, and 7th grade social studies teachers. Says Weakland, "Since students in grades four and seven study the Iroquois, we structured the competition to help teachers bring those lessons to life."

Fourth grade teachers Rosemarie Kitson, Cindy Patt and Kim George, and art teacher Katherine Miller, of Severn Elementary School in Coring all leaped at the opportunity to participate. "It was a great idea," says Miller. "That kind of integration of classroom lessons and the arts is what we're trying to do in our school. What students learn in the classroom, they bring to the art room. With the museum involved, we extend those lessons out into the community."

Jerry Kennedy, a seventh grade social studies teacher at Broadway Middle School in Elmira is another teacher who embraced the contest. "The Rockwell competition was an interesting way for us to spice things up with a cross-curricular activity. It was very easy to integrate into the classroom, and the kids were really excited about their success. I'm going to encourage my students to participate every year."

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art owns one of the largest and finest collections of Western and Native American art in the Eastern United States and provides the public with a chance to see the Best of the West in the East. The Rockwell Award for Western Art is just one of the museum's education programs that make art and the many facets of American culture come alive for students. The museum's education staff works closely with teachers to help them achieve their objectives. Programs are designed in cooperation with grade level educators, language arts specialists and art teachers to align with grade level curriculum, and meet NYS standards.

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located at 111 Cedar Street in Corning, just off historic Market Street. The museum is open seven days a week. Visitors are welcome Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. From July 1 to Labor Day, the museum is open until 8 p.m.

Further information and directions are available by contacting the Museum at 607-937-5386.