High school students from Ellinwood, Great Bend, Stafford, Larned and Hoisington came to Barton Community College to engage in hands-on workshops from art professionals and participate in a juried art exhibit Wednesday.
Vortex Day is sponsored by the Barton County Arts Council (BCAC) and is underwritten by the Bill J. McKown Endowment/Golden Belt Foundation.
“We applaud the generosity of the BCAC,” Shafer Art 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 3D. 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 ceramics to a session on gelatin.
Barton Art instructor Bill Forst was one of the Barton faculty who presented at this year’s Vortex Day. Forst collaborated with students to create fish-themed ceramic bowls. In each of his sessions, Forst spoke about the benefits of attending Barton, ranging from the facilities and equipment to the low cost and scholarship opportunities. He said he is “here to dismiss the myth of the starving artist.”
“They get to exhibit their artwork in the Shafer Art Gallery, which is a museum-quality gallery,” Forst said. “We have an awards ceremony to show them there is value in what they do. They can make a living in the arts.”
The day concluded with the awards ceremony in the Shafer Art Gallery to recognize the BCAC Vortex Exhibit winners in a range of categories. Students were awarded a variety of art supplies depending on their placement.

Barton County Arts Council Vortex Day High School Exhibit 2018 Award Winners
Best of Show 2-D:
Patrick Heath, “Digging Up Bones”, Great Bend High School
Best of Show 3-D:
Alex Randolph, “Head Hunter”, Great Bend High School
Director’s Choice Award:
Katelyn Scherer, “Merissa”, Great Bend High School

Ceramics:
First Place, Maddy Ward, “Waves Within”, Ellinwood High School
Second Place, Jaci Bacon, “Untitled” (Red and Black Cup and Saucer), Great Bend High School
Third Place, France Garcia, “Cup and Saucer”, Great Bend High School

Sculpture:
First Place, Maggie Hillman, “Broken Dreams”, Great Bend High School
Second Place, Lindsey Newman, “Ornamental Necklace”, Great Bend High School
Third Place, Carson Richardson, “Infinity Gauntlet”, Stafford High School

Graphite Drawing:
First Place, Jazmin Garcia, “Parasite”, Great Bend High School
Second Place, Shaiann Montoya, “Two Faces”, Hoisington High School
Third Place, Colton McPherson, “Gooey”, Great Bend High School

Color Media:
First Place, Patrick Heath, “Birds of a Feather”, Great Bend High School
Second Place, Alyssa Davis, “Chaos in Wonderland”, Hoisington High School
Third Place, Jalyn Lear, “Inherent Fear”, Great Bend High School

Pastel and Charcoal:
First Place, Detje Marie Steiner, “Milchshaum”, Ellinwood High School
Second Place, Sarah Hammeke, “A Sliver of Stardust”, Ellinwood High School
Third Place, Daniel Astrain, “Fortaleza”, Great Bend High School

Printmaking and Scratchboard:
First Place, Anna Popp, “Waterfall”, Great Bend High School
Second Place, Sayra Solis, “Duoidentity”, Great Bend High School
Third Place, Cody Mayhan, “Steady”, Great Bend High School

Computer Imagery and Photography:
First Place, Chris Boese, “Rhino”, Hoisington High School
Second Place, Alyssa Davis, “Adventurous Situation”, Hoisington High School
Third Place, Kindric Castro, “Down by the River”, Larned High School

Painting: Oil and Acrylic:
First Place, Rylie Campbell, “Untitled”, Hoisington High School
Second Place, Cordell Stanley, “You’re It”, Great Bend High School
Third Place, Ruthie Webster, “Pieces”, Larned High School

Watercolor:
First Place, Jacqueline Gonzalez, “Peace”, Hoisington High School
Second Place, Trinity Dolezal, “Mystic Mountains”, Hoisington High School
Third Place, Maleny Carrasco, “Azul”, Great Bend High School

Fibers:
First Place, Alyssa Davis, “Upside Down Africa”, Hoisington High School
Second Place, Katie Cultus, “Panda”, Hoisington High School
Third Place, Rylie Campbell, “Ladybug”, Hoisington High School