Art awards celebrate students

Arya Nowak, a 5th grade student at Lone Mountain, points out her art on exhibit at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center.

A visual art exhibit showing the work of top students was held at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center until May 13 following the 26th Annual Celebration of Art and the 43rd Annual Jeff Cross Memorial incentive awards and scholarship ceremony sponsored by the Sonoran Arts League and CCUSD Education & Community Services.

Visual art teachers in the community selected their most gifted art students in third through 12th-grade to acknowledge their excellence, and each student has a piece in the display.

This year the top honors of the Jeff Cross Memorial Bronze Bell and the scholarship were both awarded to Sydney Terpstra, a graduating senior attending Cactus Shadows High School, for her dedication and talent.

2022 SAL Scholarship and bell winner: Sydney Terpstra of Cactus Shadows High School with her award and piece of art.

“Her work is uniquely creative and is executed with mastery of media,” said Sonoran Arts League Youth Art Chair Robin Ray. “The concepts and themes in her work are well developed and explore thoughtful provoking images. We honor the excellence and talents of the gifted art students in our community and know they will go out in the world to make a difference with their creative talents.”

Sydney’s art was selected based on her portfolio, sketchbook, essay and transcripts. She is planning to attend ASU next fall to pursue art.  

In addition, all the top students received an incentive award, a collection of art supplies to fuel them through the summer.

The Sonoran Arts League is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-based, arts service organization dedicated to actively advancing art, artists and art education with more than 780 members from around the United States and Canada. The League’s mission is to “give to the community by promoting art, artists and art education through leadership and service in the belief that an artistic awareness is essential to the well-being of life and our community.” Located at 7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite 144, Cave Creek, AZ. 85331, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. The Arts Learning Studio is located at the same address, Suite 164.
For information about an event or to register for a class, visit www.sonoranartsleague.org, email [email protected] or call 480-575-6624.