We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Harlem High School sophomore Emjai Stiffarm earned Best of Show honors for her charcoal piece titled Staircase.
Another Student Division winner was Amanda Finley, who captured Best of Show for her birdhouse construction.
In the Adult Division, Dale Klungland was awarded Best of Show in both large and small woodworking projects with his kitchen hutch and table top lazy susan featuring a toothpick holder.
In the Adult Division, Dale Klungland was awarded Best of Show in both large and small woodworking projects with his kitchen hutch and table top lazy susan featuring a toothpick holder.
In the Student Division, Daniel MacLeod won Best of Show for his cribbage board, a computer generated woodworking project.
Joni Freeser, an artist from Belt, was featured at the Seed Show with her Dirt Work. For her display, she won Overall Champion status in the professional artist category. Painted with pigments made from various soils, Mud Dog was one of several pieces on display.
Art Superintendent Mary-Kate French conveyed pleasure about the array of artwork on display at the 72nd Annual Montana Seed Show. With everything from self-portraits created with continuous string art to charcoal drawings and liquid glue art, the creativity on display was diverse and plentiful.
The top youth award winner was Harlem High School sophomore, Emjai Stiffarm for her charcoal rendering of a staircase that resembles a nautilus shell. With her piece titled Staircase, Stiffarm's artistic talent earned her a maroon rosette.
The top commercial artist was Joni Freeser from Belt for her Dirt Work. While Freeser can't be commissioned to excavate any ground for construction, she can paint a picture with dirt.
"Yup, I paint with dirt," Freeser said. "The short version of the story of how this came about is that dirt is cheap, but more importantly it gives my artwork interest and meaning."
Freeser will typically photograph what she wants to paint and then collect dirt from that location to create her painting. "I also gather dirt from places that may have 'seen' a lot of history-like old homestead sites or buffalo wallows."
Although watercolors have long been Freeser's favorite medium, her love of dirt may derive from her college days. During the summertime, she worked as a firefighter for the Forest Service and wondered what it would be like to draw with the charcoal all around her.
Later these memories would return to her, and along with them came the idea to use dirt from where a photograph was taken to paint it. She looked into making paint from dirt, and once she realized how easy it was, Dirt Work became her passion. "I try and find dirt that has a unique color or is from an interesting or exciting spot that helps give my artwork more character and meaning," Freeser explained.
Woodworking was another highlight at the Seed Show. In the Adult Division, Dale Klungland won Best of Show in both large and small woodworking categories for his kitchen hutch and turn table.
In the Student Division, Daniel MacLeod captured Best of Show in the Computer Generated category for his cribbage board, and Amanda Finley earned a rosette for her birdhouse.
French not only expressed pride in her students' creativity but praised the exceptional talent from the elementary school, as well. "We have ribbons everywhere in here," she said.
