Incline High School art students were given a single directive in the 2008 “Perceptions” competition — create artwork that tells the story of “Our world as I see it.”
Bill Casey, the competition director and an Incline author said the 31 entries showed how in-tune the students were with current events in the world.
“I think it shows adults how much these students pay attention and how astute they are when observing the world,” Casey said. “They are very hip to what is going on, they focused on war, environmental degradation and the greed they see in America.”
The “Perceptions” competition awards were handed out Monday by Casey at IHS, with three placing winners and three honorable mentions.
Senior Daniel Laukat won the contest’s top spot with a painting titled “Miss America.”
The painting depicts a nude woman’s torso in front of the American flag.
Laukat said he derived some inspiration for the piece from the works of artists Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.
Laukat said the piece included spray paint and acrylics and he said he would leave his painting up to interpretation by viewers.
Casey said Laukat’s painting impressed him with the creativity, thoughtfulness and intelligence it presented.
The award Laukat received was a certificate recognizing excellence, which every artist received, along with a prize of $50. Second place winner and IHS freshman Nikki Riva was awarded $30 and senior Karen Duran took third place and $20.
Riva’s “The World Was Once Peaceful”Kyle 4/30/08 depicts our planet with a 1960s-era peace sign overlaid on the globe while the world burns from the bottom.
“For the Money” was Duran’s entry, an abstract of a hand reaching for an out-of-focus dollar bill.
Casey said he designed the competition to highlight and recognize local students, giving them an incentive to succeed in creative endeavors.
“This competition is designed to provide the teachers at Incline High School with another vehicle for bringing out the best in their students,” said Casey.
Previously, he has sponsored art and essay-writing competitions, which Laukat won with an essay his sophomore year in 2006.
“I’m telling you, when it comes to creativity this kid is one of the best of the best,” Casey said. “He really crafted his essay and put a lot of thought into each word, he could hold his own at any magazine as a writer and he is a very talented artist.”
Joining Casey in judging this year’s competition were Saundra Beretta, an artist and design consultant at On Line Design, photographer Niobe Burden, Schuyler Harrison, marketing manager at Sierra Nevada College and Bary Pollack, chair of the computer science dept. at SNC.