Two Kennett High School seniors, Olivia Avedisian and Bailey Reigel, were recognized for their exceptional talent at the 42nd annual Area High School Show. The juried exhibition was held at the Chester County Art Association in West Chester from April 23 to 30.
Olivia Avedisian earned a First Place Award/Chester County Art Association Board Excellence Award for her untitled charcoal work. Olivia is a student in Mr. Tom Hironimus’s Advanced Art III class. She carries on a proud tradition, as this is the same award Amelia Pagliaro won in 2012, and Noelle Raezer won in 2014.
When describing why she selected the photograph on which she based her drawing, Olivia said, “What I loved most about the piece was the emotion in her face. You could see the happiness in her eyes.”
“Winning was a big surprise. It’s an honor that I wasn’t expecting, and it’s really special, since it’s my senior year,” she added.
Senior Bailey Reigel, a student in Mr. Hironimus’s Advanced Art II course, won a Chester County Art Association Board Honorable Mention for “Buffalo,” an acrylic painting.
“Art makes me feel peaceful. I’m a high energy person, and art makes me feel calm. The reason I chose to do the buffalo is because I just liked the picture I based it on. I took the picture myself when my family was in Yellowstone last summer,” explained Bailey.
“I owe a lot to Mr. Hironimus. He’s a great teacher. An inspiration. Everybody likes him. Everybody respects him. Everybody listens to him. He’s amazing,” she added.
The exhibition displayed over five hundred pieces of artwork from all Chester County high schools brought together by the Chester County Intermediate Unit, including over twenty-five works by Kennett High School artists. Everything from drawing and painting to computer generated art, to found object sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and more showcased the talents of area students.