SILER CITY, N.C. — Tiana Brooks and Rilee Rains received top honors at Path to the Woods, a juried art exhibition held on November 4 at Jordan-Matthews High School.
Brooks was awarded first place and the $100 prize for her mixed media work, “Flower for your thoughts.”
Rains received second place and a $50 prize for “Through the Trees," an acrylic painting on canvas.
Local artists Barbara Hengstenberg and Bronwyn Watson, who served as judges for the show, also selected two works for honorable mention: Madelyn Eubanks's “Freedom” and Diana Ocampo's “Two Paths to the Woods” — both acrylic paintings on canvas.
Path to the Woods was inspired by “Into the Woods,” the Broadway musical being performed at the high school from November 14 to 16 by a large student cast.
Art teacher Rahma Mateen-Mason said students from beginners in Art I through advanced artists in Art IV chose how to interpret the “path to the woods" theme. Some chose a literal interpretation, while others focused their work on some other element of the musical, such as incorporating fairytale characters or landscapes.
The fall art show was presented with assistance from JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with more than 80 members and five organizational partners working to provide what JM artists need to excel.
More information about JMArts, including how to become a member, is available online at JMArts.org. Tickets for “Into the Woods” are now on sale at JMArtsTickets.com.
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Award recipients, from left, honorable mention Diana Ocampo, second-place Rilee Rains and first-place Tiana Brooks celebrate with art teacher Rahma Mateen-Mason after the Path to the Woods art show. Madelyn Eubanks also received an honorable mention award.