When art enthusiasts attend the 29th annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, next month, they can see the work of two talented Byram Hills High School students.
Senior Sarah Bogart’s coral reef teapot and senior Lucia Naranjo’s self-portrait mug were chosen for the show and competition. Their work is among the 150 pieces selected by a juror from 1,051 submissions. Students can win awards and scholarships.
Visual art teacher Amy Menasche explained that Sarah’s meticulous depiction of coral in the form of a teapot emphasizes the beauty that is jeopardized by global warming and ocean pollution.
For Lucia’s mug, based on an 18th-century character mug, she created an expression intended to look annoyed at the user of the mug, Ms. Menasche said, adding that it was validating that the juror responded to the piece’s wit and historical reference.
“I'm really happy that these students' work was chosen for this prestigious show and that their pieces will have a wider audience,” she said.
The exhibition showcases the best ceramic work by kindergarten through 12th grade students in the nation and draws thousands of people. It takes place in a different city each year to coincide with the annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, the preeminent ceramic event in the United States that draws professionals from universities, colleges, museums, galleries and the ceramic arts world.
