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Young Artists Honored

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By RICH SHOPES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 17, 2008

Updated: 03/16/2008 11:34 pm

TAMPA - Theresa Painter watched as fellow artists walked to the podium to receive their ribbons. One by one, they stepped through the crowd of about 75, amid applause, until, finally, one ribbon remained.

"I just wanted to get it over with," said Painter, standing alongside her parents and sister at the University of Tampa's Scarfone-Hartley Gallery.

She didn't imagine her name was among the winners. She hoped it would be, but as the pile of ribbons dwindled, it looked as if Painter would leave empty-handed.

Then her name was called.

The 18-year-old senior from Blake High School walked toward the podium, clasped her face in both hands and bent for a second, concealing a grin that wouldn't go away. Then she straightened and shook hands with U.S. Rep Kathy Castor, who handed her the winner's green ribbon, and smiled some more as cameras flashed.

"I thought I was going to get a nosebleed," Painter said later, laughing.

Dozens of works by local high school students were on display Sunday at the annual Next Generation and 11th Congressional District High School Art Exhibition, which runs through March 27.

Painter's oil painting, a self-portrait of her holding a bouquet of yellow flowers, won the Congressional Choice Award. It will be exhibited for a year along with other works by young artists at the Capitol in Washington.

Painter and her family will get free round-trip tickets to Washington, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, and free lodging for the unveiling. Also, Painter will receive her choice of scholarship to the University of Tampa or the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

"I couldn't stop thinking, 'I just hope they call my name,'" she said. "But I wasn't so sure."

Sunday's awards show and exhibition was held at UT because the Tampa Museum of Art, the show's usual home, has been torn down to make room for a new museum. The event will return to the art museum in two years.

In her remarks, Hillsborough County schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said the arts are important because, among other things, they help young people develop in ways not accomplished strictly through academics.

"You get that when you have a well-rounded arts program that doesn't just look at the FCAT," she said of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. "It's very important to understand that these talents ... are important to have in life."

The others winners were: Anthony Ahaviano, Blake High School, Museum Choice Award; Carlos Pons, Blake High School, Best of 3-Dimensional Works; Mandi Siegfried, Gaither High School, Best of Photography; Angela Azmitia, Blake High School, first place, general award; Michelle Latortue, Blake High School, second place, general award; Rheannon Gulley, Bloomingdale High School, third place, general award; Taylere Blanc, Alonso High School, first place, Florida Water Color Society; Jennifer Kemp, Bloomingdale High School, second place, Florida Water Color Society; and Alex Tagliarini, Jesuit High School, third place, Florida Watercolor Society.

Honorable mentions went to Trever Roden, Berkeley Preparatory School; Sara West, Berkeley Preparatory School; Hanna M. LeHeup, Blake High School; Emily Cutolo, Plant High School; and Angelica Marousis, Sickles High School.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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