Sunday, February 24 at the Jordan River Art Center awards were presented to students that participated in the Project, Kidz Create—Issues that Matter. with standing room only. Awards presented were best of show, an entire class, a group consisting of more than two students, the individual.

Issues chosen. Shelters, Recycling, War and Peace, Pollution, Endangered Species, Invasive Species, the Great Lakes, Garden Sculptures, and Political issues. Techniques were with painted silks, mosaics, collages with poems, paintings, digital imaging, and sculptures from toothpick, recycles materials, shoes, metal, wood, popsicles sticks,and adobe.

The juror, Carol Ross, artist and teacher of Boyne City, spent several hours deciding on the 45 awards. (See Juror’ statement) made possible by grants from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Bay Harbor Foundation.

Nick Steiner (left) and Michael Ponte, Bellaire High School, holding the nine foot Mackinaw bridge with freighter below they created from old unused paper straws which received best of show in the exhibit, KIdz Create Issues that Matter, now showing at the Jordan River Art Center, 301 Main St., East Jordan. Others helping with the project were Keifer Yurgaitas and Brad Guy. Mary Manville, art teacher.

Juror Statement for Kidz Create, “Issues that Matter”

Having students create is an important part of critical thinking and problem solving, but when children create to see their world with critical eyes, their work is so much more important. As teachers, we hope to generate world citizens who will protect our environment and all the creatures who are a part of it. This transfer of stewardship must start at an early age.

I am proud of the students and teachers who chose to be involved in this event covered many diverse subjects. The topic of shelters shows that children see that climate varies around the globe, and with time housing will need to be flexible. Endangered species can never be addressed too often because there will always be conflicts between man and the shrinking wilds. These students in northwest Michigan are realizing the importance of the waters that surround them. Water shortages and invading species can change our Great Lakes very quickly. We, as consumers, must problem solve to find an answer to the tonnage of refuse created every day and it all can't be made into art. The ultimate fear, of course, should be the end of the civilization brought on by war. Even in these children's brief life times, too many world citizens have lost their lives to a machete, bullet or a bomb.

The visitors, who walk through this body of work need to look closely, read slowly and think intensely about the ideas of the young. We need to support them by listening to their fears and working with them to create hope for the future.
Carol Ross

Best of show award went to Bellaire students, Nick Steiner, Michael Ponte, Keifer Yurgaitas, and Brad Guy for their Mackinaw Bridge and a floating freighter made from recycled paper drinking straws. They also received a group award for their Tree in the Park, complete with bench, bicycle, garbage can, and lamp made from pop can and tabs.

Other group awards went to Chris Dewey and Travor, Bellaire; Andy Proctor and Robert Brown, Bellaire; Olivia, Carly, Nori, and Maddy, Ellsworth 4th Grade; Katelyn Sowers, Larissa Fisher, and Taryn Rozema, Ellsworth 5th and 6th grade; and Katie, Hunter, and Luke, 5th and 6th grade, Ellsworth.

Individual Awards went to Katelyn Fifelski, Bellaire; Ben Winter, Gina Earegood, Chelsie Kritz, Alex Hagen, Jenny Ernst, and Isabelle Conzen, East Jordan High School; Stephen Hosler, Kaeli Skop. and Emilee Camareno, East Jordan 4th Grade; Harry Priest, Emily Crick, and Kelsey Moore; East Jordan 8th Grade; Kelcie Drenth, Ellsworth High School;Olive Adams, and Maddy Stecnwyk, Ellsworth 4th Grade; and Paige Piche, Sarah Welsh, Jeremiah Welsh, and Sarah Zaborowski, Concord Academy Antrim.

Class awards went to: East Jordan High School, Pat Tinney teacher; East Jordan 4th Grade Class , Mrs. Kitson teacher, East Jordan 4th Grade Class, Mrs. Hewitt, teacher; East Jordan 8th grade, Darrin Podskalny, teacher; Ellsworth High School Imaging Class, Deb Hughes, teacher; Beaver Island School, Miranda Rooy, teacher; Ellsworth 4th Grade, Char Smith, teacher; and Ellsworth 2nd grade, Holly Russell, teacher.

Other class awards went to Boyne Falls, Melissa Baker teacher; Ellsworth Kindergarten, Mrs. Essenberg teacher; Ellsworth 1st grade, Mrs. Randall, teacher; Ellsworth 3rd grade, Mrs. Spence, teacher; Ellsworth 5th and 6th grade, Mr. Nagel, teacher; Bellaire High School, Mrs. Manville, teacher; East Jordan 4th Grade, Mrs. McDuffie, teacher; and Concord Academy Antrim, Mrs. Hoffman, teacher.

The exhibit is open daily from 1-4 pm through March 21 at the Jordan River Art Center, 301 Main St., East Jordan. School group tours with hands on experiences can be scheduled by calling Jane Diller, 231 582 6399.