The Rotaract Club of Georgetown on Friday held a public art showcase at the Giftland Mall for its pilot environmental art project, which challenged secondary school students to illustrate this year’s World Environment Day theme, “Connecting People with Nature.”
Eleven pieces were on display from students of the St Joseph High School, South Ruimveldt Secondary School, the Bishops’ High School, Saint Stanislaus College and Christ Church Secondary School.
Although the competition was open to students 11-17 years-old in secondary schools across Georgetown, only five schools made the deadline for entry. The entries were judged by June Ann Payne, Lori Ann Jacobs and Michael Khan, representatives from the ER Burrowes School of Art and the University of Guyana.
The showcase was a supplement to the prize-giving ceremony, which honoured four participants. Placing first was Aaliyah Amin of the Christ Church Secondary School; in second place was Roberto Teekah of the Bishops’ High School; in third place was Keran James of the South Ruimveldt Secondary School and in fourth was Amanda Omra of the St. Joseph High School.
The prizes for first to third were a tablet, a cellphone and an $8,000 gift voucher from the Giftland Mall. Omra received the special prize of a $5,000 gift voucher because her artwork stood out among the entries submitted by the younger children.
The competition was intended to encourage students’ appreciation for nature, and according to immediate past president of the club Noelle Plass, allow them to “manifest” artistically, their thoughts toward the theme. It was launched on World Environment Day.
It is anticipated that the art competition will be held annually.
