Area high school students from Ellinwood, Great Bend, Solomon, Stafford, Larned and Hoisington came to Barton Community College to get hands-on experience from art professionals and participate in a juried art exhibit Thursday, April 6.
Top awards went to Eline Widding Hansen, Ellinwood High School, Best in Show 2-D, “Wavy Gaze”; Sara Nelson, Great Bend High School, Best in Show 3-D, “Self Portrait”; and Baily Fynmore, Solomon High School, Directors Choice Award, “Melancholy.”
The exhibit and workshop were sponsored by the Barton County Arts Council.
“We applaud the generosity of the BCAC,” Shafer Gallery Director Dave Barnes said. “Without their help, we would not have been able to expand our workshop offerings, provide the students with significant awards and provide encouragement to the high school teachers participating in the event.”
The BCAC Vortex exhibit featured entries in a variety of mediums from painting to various 3D entries. The exhibit serves as the framework for Vortex Day, which is designed to stimulate and enhance students’ interest and excitement in the arts. Students participated in various workshops which ranged from a ceramic workshop to a session on photographic lighting techniques presented by Barton faculty and staff and local art professionals.
The day culminated with an awards ceremony in the Shafer Gallery to recognize the BCAC Vortex Exhibit winners in of a range categories. Students were awarded a variety of art supplies depending on their placement. The high school art teachers were given $100 Dick Blick gift cards to assist supplying their classrooms.

Barton County Arts Council Vortex Day High School Exhibit 2017 Award Winners
Watercolor
Third Place, Brianna Rose, “Red Sun Landscape”, Hoisington
Second Place, Trinity Dolezal, “Untitled”, Hoisington
First Place, Andrew Rincon, Landscape, Hoisington
Painting
Third Place, Tiele Stephens, “Orbit,” Great Bend
Second Place, Haleigh Martin, “Me, Myself, and I,” Ellinwood
First Place, Kayanna Hammeke, “Blurred,” Ellinwood
Computer Imagery and Photography
Third Place, David Boese, “Fox,” Hoisington
Second Place, Kent Wu, “Untitled,” Hoisington
First Place, Bailey Fynmore, “Withered,” Solomon
Printmaking and Scratchboard
Third Place, Annie Mills, “Eye of the Beholder,” Great Bend
Second Place, Jalyn Lear, “Sweet Embrace,” Ellinwood
First Place, Deontre Hardiman, “King Me,” Great Bend
Drawing
Third Place, KD Scherer, “Wind,” Great Bend
Second Place, Sarah Hammeke, “Eline,” Ellinwood
First Place, Eline Widding Hansen, “Mischievous Stare,” Ellinwood
Color Media
Third Place, Samuel Yockers, “Untitled,” Solomon
Second Place, Dorothy Nie, “Myself,” Hoisington
First Place, Antonio Chavez, “Un Mariachi,” Great Bend
Ceramics - Functional
Third Place, Mayra Reyes, “Lantern,” Great Bend
Second Place, Haleigh Martin, “Dark Oasis Night,” Ellinwood
First Place, Joanna Strecker, “Desert Sunrise,” Ellinwood
Sculpture
Third Place, Abby Kelty, “Bucket Calf,” Larned
Second Place, Taylor Hoffman, “Dragon,” Great Bend
First Place, Sara Nelson, “Metamorphosis,” Great Bend