Four students at Holly Ridge Middle School were honored for artistic expression in this year’s PTA Reflections competition, with two eighth graders, Kyra Lewis and Emily Johnston, placing first at the state level in the middle school division.
eflections is a national arts recognition program founded in 1969 by the National PTA that encourages students from kindergarten through high school to create original works of art and examine their thoughts, feelings and ideas in response to the current year’s theme. Submissions are accepted in six categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Students complete an artist statement describing their work and how it relates to the theme. This year’s theme is “I Matter Because…”
The Reflections program receives more than 300,000 entries each year that are judged by experienced artists. Student winners from the local level have the opportunity to advance to the county and state levels. Select state winners proceed to the national level.
Both Lewis and Johnston took home first place awards in the middle school division at the county and state levels. Lewis won in the Dance category and Johnston won in the 2D Visual Arts category.
Lewis created “Train Wreck,” a contemporary dance filmed in her living room that skillfully captures the mixed emotions she has experienced throughout life. “I matter because, despite setbacks and especially living through this pandemic, I’ve remained strong, optimistic and hopeful,” she wrote in her artist statement.
Lewis was thrilled to win at the state level. “I was glad that my statement had a powerful connection and meaning to my dance,” she said.
Johnston’s vivid self-portrait titled “Bloom” uses pen, markers, acrylic paint and pencils to demonstrate her love of color. “It shows my creative flow and how I see the world for its beauty,” she wrote. Flowers represent personal growth and creativity, and those wrapped in bandages “show scars and how they are covered but still withhold growth.”
Johnston used the time spent at home during the pandemic to explore her creativity and enter the Reflections competition. “With quarantine in place, I was feeling lost and lonely. However, I also realized it was a great time to find myself,” she said. “I was given an opportunity to develop my artistic talents during a concentrated timeframe and use them to express myself and connect with people. My success provided encouragement and validation of my recent growth and effort.”
Also in the middle school division, eighth grader Logan Vendeland won first place in two categories: Visual Arts and Photography. Seventh grader Abby Holland won third place for her 2D artwork in the Visual Arts category.
Vendeland’s “Metro Windows” is a canvas painting that shows her view of city lights through a window. “I blur my eyes and think about how I will contribute to society in the future,” she explained.
“Introspection and Reflection” is Vendeland’s photographic self-portrait. “I matter because I am kind and good. I think of others, the planet and the impact we all have on the environment. We each can make a difference. This is what I am contemplating as I look up.”
Holland’s drawing of her beaming family is aptly named “Smile.” Her artist statement says it all: “I thought hard about this and the one thing in life that I am proudest of is the fact that I can make people smile and bring joy to my family’s lives.”
Reflections winners in Wake County were honored in a virtual celebration via Facebook on April 17. The following Saturday, the North Carolina Parent Teachers Association recognized the state winners in a virtual ceremony.
Kyra Lewis, 8th grade
Emily Johnson, 8th grade
Logan Vendeland
Abby Holland, 7th grade
