West Forsyth and Mount Tabor Students Winners in Art Contest

An illustration by Armani Becerra, who will be a junior at West Forsyth High School, was selected as the first-place winner for the annual student art contest sponsored by Bookmarks and Art for Art’s Sake (AFAS).

Becerra’s work, which was chosen from entries submitted by middle and high school students in Forsyth County, will be printed on 5,000 bookmarks to be distributed throughout Winston-Salem and surrounding counties. 

“I love creating art and love being encouraged to create art by my teachers, namely Mrs. Betson, and my supportive family," Becerra said. "I draw most of my inspiration from painters Claude Monet and Henri-Edmond Cross, and especially the Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi. In the future, I plan to continue working and grow as an artist.”

Emma Day, a rising junior at Mount Tabor High School, received second place, and Andy Li, a rising sophomore at Mt. Tabor High School, received third place.

“Our contest participants went to a wide variety of places this year in making art and expressing their love for reading,” said Cheryl Davis, an artist and a member of the Art for Art’s Sake board of trustees. “They took us from the depths of the ocean to mysterious magical lands and to the moon and back. Some students embraced a more edgy contemporary approach. We, at AFAS, are always delighted by what the students of Forsyth County contribute during this annual celebration of books and authors through art.”

Amarni Becerra

The winners were honored on Aug. 4 at the opening reception for the Unbound & Unleashed exhibition at Red Dog Gallery on North Liberty Street. All three winning pieces will be on display as part of the exhibition through September.

About Bookmarks

Bookmarks is a literary arts nonprofit organization that fosters a love of reading and writing in the community. The programming connects readers with authors and books and is achieved through the largest annual book festival in the Carolinas; an Authors in Schools program, which reaches 7,500 students annually; and year-round events in their gathering space and nonprofit independent bookstore that opened July 8, 2017. Bookmarks’ thirteenth Festival of Book and Authors will be held September 7–10, 2017. Visit Bookmarks for more information.

Emma Day

About Arts for Art’s Sake

Art for Art’s Sake builds, educates, and celebrates community through art showcased in Red Dog Gallery, ARTivity on the Green, the Unleashed Arts Center, and at Arts on Sunday Festivals held each May and September. They initiate and/or support a wide variety of special events and programs that are designed to further the creation and enjoyment of art at the local level. In addition, through student scholarships and artist mentoring, they encourage the development of new and emerging artists throughout the community. Learn more at Art for Art's Sake

 

Winners with Cheryl Davis and Julie Knabb