Chatham Student Makes Teen Arts Festival History

Students from Chatham High School's art department drew high honors for their work at the Morris County Teen Arts Festival, held at the County College of Morris on May 14.

Sculptures, paintings, drawing and ceramics by Chatham High students were on display at the festival, 20 pieces in all. Chatham was one of 18 schools to participate in the festival.

Judges awarded 10 "Best in Show" Gold Awards, two to Chatham High and both those to one student, Megan Gesell. Gesell is the first student in the history of the festival to win two ribbons, and those in two different art media.

Gesell won Gold Awards for a ceramic sculpture and a painting, "showing her versatility as an artist," Jennifer Zimmerman of Chatham High said. Her painting of a carrot was named Best in Show and will be shown on the cover of the program for the 2014 Teen Arts Festival.

Other students who received one of twenty-five Blue Highest Honor ribbons were Adriana Garrison, Owen Hewes, Jean DeBiasse, Giselle Easton and Sarah Thomson.  

Art teachers Kiera Spadaro and Eric Hreha took 38 Chatham High students to the festival so they could see the art and attend art workshops taught by faculty of County College of Morris. The students made charcoal figure drawings, photograms and acrylic landscapes.  

Art professor and show judge Todd Doney led a "walk and talk" through the show and gave his thoughts on the pieces that won awards.

At a teachers' luncheon at the festival, Spadaro and Hreha were given a trophy for Best in Show for the fifth straight year.

Photos attached include:
Megan Gesell with Gold Award winning ceramic gourd birdhouse
Megan Gesell with Gold Award winning painting of a cut carrot on a table
(These first two are by Tara Gesell)
CCM art professor and judge, Todd Doney, with CHS three dimensional artwork display
(by Kiera Spadaro)
Megan Gesell: Gourd
Megan Gesell: Carrot painting
(Both photos submitted by County College of Morris, unknown photographer)