Ten Sleep art students end travels at statewide art symposium

Ten Sleep art students have been broadening their artistic horizons during the 23-24 school year by actively participating in art events near and far, according to Ten Sleep Schools art teacher Shara Mills.

Alongside attending the University of Wyoming Art Intensive in the fall 2023, students also had the opportunity to engage in the Sheridan Art Intensive this Spring. This intensive program provided hands-on experience across diverse mediums, from leatherworking to linocut printmaking, expressive drawing to ceramic texture sculpture, and even hand-printed silk screen t-shirts students brought home as event merchandise, she said.

"One of the most memorable aspects of this year's Sheridan Art Intensive was the captivating performance by the Department of Music. This interdisciplinary collaboration featured four original compositions that intertwined live singing and instrumental elements with technology-driven audio-visual components. The innovative concert provided a truly engaging sensory experience, enriching the overall event for our students and demonstrating the power of art to transcend boundaries. The opportunity to forge connections with college staff and explore new art forms proved invaluable to all participants," Mills said.

The pinnacle of the art students' travel endeavors was the Wyoming State Art Symposium last month.

"This prestigious event stands alone in celebrating and recognizing high school student artists statewide. The Wyoming State Art Symposium is the largest single art show of High School art in the nation.

"The sight of the Ford Events Center in Casper, filled with the finest young artists and their art from across Wyoming, was awe-inspiring. Our students were immersed amidst a breathtaking array of 2D and 3D artworks, a testament to the vibrant creativity thriving within our state and the recognition of their artistic endeavors," Mills said.

Artistic excellence was duly acknowledged at the Symposium, with works receiving accolades ranging from blue ribbons awarded by Wyoming High School Art teachers for excellence in technical skill, creativity, and originality to purple ribbons for 3D Artistic Discovery, First Lady of Wyoming Awards, and purple Congressional ribbons.

Mills said 37% of Ten Sleep's submissions earned the coveted blue ribbons, surpassing the national average. Blue ribbons were earned by Grace Gertsch, Isabelle Fox, Cameron Carter and Kelsie Griffin.

Completing the students' enriching journey was visiting The Nicolaysen Art Museum, where students could admire works by Wyoming teachers, contemporary artists, and iconic historical figures such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Despite the whirlwind nature of the event, those who attended for the full three days found themselves immersed in a world of artistic inspiration and appreciation, Mills said.

"As we reflect on these transformative experiences, we eagerly anticipate building upon this foundation to establish a lasting tradition of artistic excellence and exploration within our school community," Mills said.