New bridge banners showcase student winners of Woodlawn Arts Academy exhibit

STERLING – The banners running along First Avenue Bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls have been replaced with the winning entries from Woodlawn Arts Academy’s 2020 Student-Teacher Art Exhibit.

The winning entries are:

“Night at the Work Desk,” a chalk pastel piece by Rock Falls High School senior Erin Daub, which took first place in the grades 9-12 category.

“It’s the Little Things,” colored pencil art by Addison Wiersema, Morrison Junior High eighth-grader who took first in the 5-8 category.

“Winter Landscape,” a pastels and tempera piece by first-place winner by Hanah Haeffner, a second-grader at Franklin Elementary in Sterling, K-4 category.

Rounding out the top 12 in the academy’s 11th annual exhibit were:

· “Fill Me Up,” acrylic, Damarys Garcia, junior, Rock Falls High School, second place, 9-12.

· “Monochromatic Mountains,” tempera, Romy Kendrick, fifth grade, Washington Elementary in Sterling, second place, 5-8.

· “Snowman Prints,” ink, Adalyn Henard, first grade, Franklin Elementary, second place, K-4.

· “Tipsy,” charcoal, Shayla Schmall, sophomore, Rock Falls High School, third place, 9-12.

· “Mug Shot,” oil pastel, Camden Pruis, eighth grade, Morrison Junior High, third place, 5-8.

· “Untitled,” pencil, Mia Tobey, fourth grade, Southside School, Morrison, third place, K-4.

· “The Chandelier,” mixed media, Gracen Harmon, senior, Morrison High School, honorable mention, 9-12.

· “Fishing,” oil pastel, Nyah Britt, seventh grade, Morrison Junior High, honorable mention, 5-8.

· “Shape Scarecrow,” Sharpie and crayon, Harper Carroll, kindergarten, Franklin Elementary, honorable mention, K-4.

Sauk Valley-area schools, teachers and students submitted more than 100 pieces for the exhibit, which opened in late February. Community members voted for their favorites; voting culminated just before Woodlawn was forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The banners are replaced yearly through the academy’s partnership with Sterling Main Street.

In addition to being featured on the bridge banners, the artwork also was featured in the academy’s program guide and on social media.

Go to www.woodlawnartsacademy.com for more information on the nonprofit academy, including the 2021 Student-Teacher Art Exhibit.