Barring worldwide pandemics becoming “a thing,” it is a cinch there won’t be another contest quite like the 2020 version of the Orange County High School Artist of the Year program.
While participation jumped by nearly 50 percent from 2019, this year’s program almost didn’t happen. A lack of funding in the fall almost killed the program, until Chapman University stepped up to partner with the The Register on a multi-year agreement.
Laguna College of Art and Design also agreed to provide awards and scholarships for contest winners, expanding its support for the program this year.
Then along came the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home orders and the closing of schools. This forced organizers to pivot and cancel in-person performances and interviews with judges and replace it with a virtual contest.
Despite the potential pitfalls and logistical hurdles, the seventh Artist of the Year program in many ways is the best yet.
Artists with diverse skills and backgrounds were named Artists of the Year in theater, dance, film, vocal music, instrumental music, computer-assisted visual arts and handcrafted visual arts. Other students were also recognized in 24 related subdivisions.
This year’s Artists of the Year range from a Mouseketeer turned country singer to an artist who used poverty that surrounded him as inspiration. There was an actress who wouldn’t let a setback in last year’s contest stop her from coming back even better. A filmmaker wrought a tale of pain and beauty about being a young Muslim-American. A violinist shared his talent by playing at senior homes. A graphic designer displayed a wry and subtly subversive style. And a young dancer is determined to bring back tap dancing.
In all, 750 students were nominated by teachers and private instructors from 78 Orange County high schools and arts organizations, up from 506 last year. This list was whittled down to 88 semifinalists, or from 12 to 14 per category.
This year, teachers were encouraged to nominate more talented juniors, which contributed to the increase in the total number of students nominated.
The semifinalists, those chosen to present their work to panels of professional artists and college-level arts faculty, turned in professional-quality performance or art portfolios and video packages in which they answered questions about art, the pandemic and a personal question designed for each.
The entrants were all asked about the effects of the pandemic on their work.
“Adaptability,” was the one word actress Christina Tinde Jesenski said was the quality she learned.
“How are we going to be able to continue to do what we love when we’re not in normal times?” she wondered.
Staying at home forced many of the artists to turn their visions inward.
Dancer Lilah Dee Horton said the pandemic taught her a deeper sense of movement and to “stand still and find yourself.”
In deciding to step up and help the program afloat, Giulio Ongaro, dean of Chapman’s College of Performing Arts said he and the faculty, “believe deeply in the value of arts and are proud to recognize talented local students.”
Now, if the scientists can get to work on a vaccine, the hope is that arts programs and the 2021 Artist of the Year Program can get back to normal.
"artist" - Google News
June 28, 2020 at 10:00PM
https://ift.tt/3i7WRLP
Winners announced for Orange County Artist of the Year 2020 - OCRegister
"artist" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2FwLdIu
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Winners announced for Orange County Artist of the Year 2020 - OCRegister"
Post a Comment