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This year’s 36th annual Suffolk Sister Cities Young Artists and Authors Showcase opening night was on Tuesday, March 11. With the theme, “Friendship: The Heart of Global Peace,” public, private, and home school students are encouraged to submit pieces of original artwork, writing, and music compositions to compete in a national competition.

With over 200 entries this year, all photography and art pieces are hung in an exhibit at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Around 30 music and written pieces were also entered but are not physically on display.

Mayor Michael Duman read off the awards during the ceremony, stating it as one of the highlights of the year. Superintendent Dr. John Gordon III and School Board Chair Heather Howell were also in attendance.

Best in show winners for art, literature, and music were announced on Tuesday at the awards ceremony as well as first, second, third place, and honorable mentions in each category.

Judged categories were drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, digital art, music, poetry, and essays. Visual arts for 14 and under were judged separately. 

Naomie James from King’s Fork High School won best in show in the art category with her drawing, “Friendship: The Heart of Global Peace.” For literature best in show, Nansemond Suffolk Academy’s Caitlin Miranda won with “Friendship is (Actually) Magic.” Bryo’n Davis from Lakeland High School won best in show in music with “Waves of Kindness.”

All first, second, and third place winners are as follows, as well as honorable mentions:

14 and under — Classic Art

1.  Eva Riggs, “Pink Friendship,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
2.  Hunter Cowan, “The Dining Room,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
3.  KB Rountree, “One World Four Religions,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Honorable Mentions: 

• Nina Bonsu, “Growth of Friendship,” John Yeates Middle School
• Cirrae Pegram, “Flower Ties,” John Yeates Middle School
• Juliana Samonote, “Two Phones Uniting New York and Greece,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Gabriella Pagan Abreu, “28,” Col. Fred Cherry Middle School

15 and over:

 Drawing

1. Raven Hunter, “Friendship: The Heart of Global Peace,” King’s Fork High School
2. Makaela Waddington, “Marble Game,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
3. Parker Duke, “Three Peas in a Pod,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Honorable Mentions:

• Audrina Boyles, “Traveling,” Nansemond River HIgh School
• Lucia Botran, “Amistad,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Maria Pratt, “Take A Step Back,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Shelby Jones, “Peace of Heart,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

 

Painting

1. Lily Capps, “We Are the Light of the World,” Nansemond River High School
2. Inasah Mitchell, “Solace,” King’s Fork High School
3. Zoe Mitchell, “What The World Needs Now,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Honorable Mentions: 

• Mack Moore, “Friendship in space,” Nansemond River High School
• Jakhya Harden, “Fingerprints,” King’s Fork High School
• Emma South, “A Pinky Promise,” Nansemond River High School
• Lexie White, “Kaleidoscope,” Nansemond River High School
• Aubrey Council, “Budding Friendship,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Jada Green, “Intertwine,” King’s Fork High School

 

Mixed Media

1. Carley Stublen, “The Group,” Nansemond River High School
2.  Kiley Whitworth, “Amicitia,” Nansemond River High School
3. Twyla MItchell, “Catching Up,” Nansemond River High School

Honorable Mentions: 

• Khori Ryley, “A Global Community,” Nansemond River High School
• Chyna Rock, “Friendship Connected through a Heartbeat,” King’s Fork High School
• Aisha Brown, “The Sea of Sonder,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Audrey Slattery, “In Our Hands,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Kate Leugers, “Threads,” King’s Fork High School
• Tara Taylor, “Eternal string,” King’s Fork High School
• Jasmine Ganies, “My Cook Book,” Nansemond River High School
• Samantha Ilich, “Pen pals,” Nansemond River High School
• Ariyanah Parson, “Swing,” King’s Fork High School
• Elizabeth Jenkins, “Roots,” Nansemond River High School
• Kaleb Alston, “Pillars of Power,” Nansemond River High School

 

Photography

1. Alisson Spires, “Through Our Eyes,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
2. Shane Rogers Johsnon, “Different Perspective,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
3. Ryan Pillsbury, “Helping Hands,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Honorable Mentions: 

• Jade Dalton, “A Helping Hand,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Landon Everett, “Bandage of Global Stability,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
• Inayah Rana, “Fostering Friendships,” Nansemond-Suffolk Academy

Digital Art

1. Taylor Davis, Friendship: “The Heart of Global Peace,” King’s Fork High School
2. Kira Hoffman, “Growing together,” King’s Fork High School
3. Sariah Fisher, “There’s Room for One More,” Lakeland High School

Honorable Mentions: 

• Rylie Hite, “United,” King’s Fork High School
• Ja’Niyah Anderson-Wood, “Heartbeat of Individuality,” King’s Fork High School

 

Music

1. Eddie Oliver, “Suffolk Peanut Festival Unity,” Lakeland High School
2. Quinton Moore, “Rails of the Seaboard Air Line,” Lakeland High School
3. S’Maria Joe, “Seaboard Station Connections,” Lakeland High School

Honorable Mentions: 

• Bryce White, “Plank Road to Peace,” Lakeland High School
• Kayleigh Shenton, “Riddick’s Folly of Prejudice,” Lakeland High School
• Avory Mickle, “Cedar Hill Cemetery’s Timeless Bond,” Lakeland High School
• Riley Hall-Trout, “The Bricks,” Lakeland High School

 

Poetry

1. Andrew Perkins, “Echoes of Emotion,” Nansemond River High School
2. Gavin Angelillo, “Unity Of Human Kinds,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy
3. Percy Ansah, “My People, my own,” Nansemond River High School

3.Elizabeth Balka, “Global Peace Shall Prolong,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy

Honorable Mentions: 

• Mackenzie Farrell, “Saying What’s Needed,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy
• Zoe Mitchell, “Why the World Spins,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy

Essay

1. Margaret Laney Cross, “My Grandma’s Friend,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy
2. Zoey Carpenter, “Friendship is Valuable,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy
3. Paiton Gillott, “Student,” Nansemond Suffolk Academy

Dr. Joleen Neighbours, SPS coordinator of fine and performing arts and cochair of the showcase, said judges follow and rubric when choosing winners. Adhering to three main categories — technique, composition, and general artistry — Neighbours said the judges also pay close attention to how the art follows the theme. 

“I loved listening to the judges, because they really took everything into consideration,” she said. “The theme is a piece of it. But again, you also want to be sure that it’s a beautiful piece of artwork as well.”

For the literature, mechanics is also considered, as is the ease of listening for musical entries. 

In addition to their piece of art, students have to write a 60-word description of their piece that mentions the inspiration for their artwork. Both the creation of the submitted piece and the artist statement have been written into the SPS arts curriculum.

“That artist statement also has become a standard part of the curriculum because that is something that we all need to be able to verbalize and articulate what the purpose is of our work, no matter what the work is,” Neighbours said.

Maryanne Persons, cochair of the showcase, said she was particularly impressed by the depth of the artist statements this year. Persons and Neighbours both said the artwork improves every year.

Neighbours said the quality of this year’s submissions is also due to the accessibility of the theme. With the theme revolving around friendship, Neighbours said the students were able to draw from their own experiences and create relatable pieces.

“It’s very interesting to see how young people interpret,” she said. Because their voice is being heard. and you see the depth that they have. We oftentimes don’t give kids enough credit. They’re pretty deep.”