Educators, in so many ways, are the driving force behind the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards as they work with their students, helping them select and perfect their best work to submit while providing the encouraging voice that gives students the motivation and courage to participate. Working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, educators, despite all odds, supported their students not only creatively but emotionally during this exceedingly difficult year.
Since 2015, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers has partnered with Golden Artist Colors to recognize outstanding educators for not only their work in the classroom, but also for their personal creativity, and to help educators develop their own artistic practice. After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are pleased to announce that three new educators have been selected to participate in the 2021 GOLDEN Educators Residency, a two-week artists’ residency this summer in a sylvan setting in upstate New York, made possible through support from the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation.
The three selected educators are:
Wendell Jeffrey from Ridge High School in Lebanon, NJ
Lucas Thomas from Stargate Charter School in Aurora, CO
Janice Yang from Wilsonville High School in Oregon City, OR
Congratulations, Wendell, Lucas, and Janice!
Thanks to the generous support of Golden Artist Colors, in addition to the three residents, nine finalists will also receive $1,000 gift certificates. Congratulations to the finalists whose impressive works made reaching the final decision a difficult process:
Heather Drayzen
Dan Gerdeman
Cassie Gnehm
Jai Hart
Tie Li
JD Reanbeau
Beth Reisman
Ryan Roth
Ju Yun
About the Golden Foundation
The mission of the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts is to be a meaningful resource for the professional visual artist. The Golden Foundation was conceived as a way to thank the community of artists for their support, encouragement, and friendship. For the Golden family and friends, the Golden Foundation is also a means of celebrating the legacy of Sam and Adele. For more information on the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation, click here.
Featured image (from left to right): Wendell Jeffrey, Pandemic Charms Installation—WTF, acrylic, oil pastels on paper (24″ x 18″), 2020; Lucas Thomas, Abundance Holding, acrylic on canvas (30 x 42″), 2020; Janice Yang, Daydreaming of the Toys, oil on canvas (24” x 30”), 2014