Awards Presented to Young Artists After Long Wait From Government Shutdown

Area youth artists were finally able to receive their awards from the 3rd annual Thomas Hart Benton Youth Art Competition and Exhibition this past weekend. The exhibition, which was displayed at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, was cut short when the Federal Government shut down in October and forced a cancellation to the awards ceremony.

“The talent of our area youth artists deserves recognition,” said Sarah Serio, president of the Neosho Arts Council.

The arts council which holds the event annually pivoted to a virtual awards announcement last month. When the announcement came that the government shutdown had concluded the art council sprung to action to present awards in person.

“We wanted to hand the awards to the young artists and thank them for sharing their work with the community,” Serio explained.

Winners in the Teen Division were:

First Place – Isabella Thompson for “Floral Still Life”

Second Place – Alexa Ortega for “Rumi”

Third Place – Andie Beeson for “Tree on Lake”

Merit Award – Haley Ellington for “Fall Slumber”

Merit Award – Samantha Burchfield for “Mushroom Boy”

Merit Award – Kyrstan for “Ghost Face”

Winners in the Kids Division were:

First Place – Ellie Williams for “Life of a Kid Artist”

Second Place – Dela for “The Author Vs.”

Third Place – Jaxon Ball for “Ernest T. Bass”

Merit Award – Lucy Beeson for “Under the Sea”

Merit Award – Lydia Lind for “Northern Lights”

Merit Award – Molly Smith for “Butterfly”

The arts council says they plan to hold the event again next year at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery.

“It’s exciting to hold this exhibition of young artist’s works on the Hatchery grounds because this was a place Benton himself came to as a young artist to create,” Serio explained

The Neosho National Fish Hatchery opened in 1888 and has been the event host for the past three years. Benton, who was born in Neosho in 1889, was known to have created art on the hatchery grounds. This includes a 1912 painting titled “The Fish Hatchery, Neosho.” He later became known for his regionalist style of art and mural work at locations such as the Missouri State Capitol and the Truman Library.

All of this year’s youth art entries along with the virtual awards announcement that includes the judge’s remarks can be found at neoshoarts.net.