Birmingham students’ refrigerator art could land them an actual refrigerator
Above: Nationally known artist Steve Skipper reviews art entered in the contest.
After viewing nearly 800 clever and colorful student drawings, judges have selected 15 finalists for Alabama Power’s first-ever “Refrigerator Art” contest.
A new refrigerator or another appliance (up to $1,000 value) will be offered to the families of three elementary students from Birmingham City Schools whose art is judged the best. Their schools will also receive a free appliance, courtesy of Whirlpool.
The winners for each grade group will be named at a ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Alabama Power’s Metro Central Appliance Sales and Service Center in downtown Birmingham.
“I was very impressed by the number of submissions from the Birmingham City Schools and the excellent work that the teachers are doing with their students,” said Lauren Lake, chair of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and one of the five judges.
“The great mix of work that was turned in showed the range and support that the arts receive in the city’s school system,” said artist and contest judge Annie Kammerer Butrus.
“I’m very encouraged to see the tremendous amount of talent that’s out there,” said contest judge Steve R. Skipper, a nationally renowned portrait artist and pastor.
Twenty-one schools – three-fourths of the district—sent in artwork. Students were asked to create a drawing based on the theme of reading. Children in kindergarten and first grade drew a character or story from their favorite book; students in grades 2-3 drew their favorite place to read; and students in grades 4-5 illustrated the cover if their lives were a book.
“This contest has opened so many doors for students in that it’s enhanced their creativity, strengthened their talents and encouraged them to remain dedicated to the visual arts,” said John H. McAphee Jr., coordinator of Fine Arts for Birmingham City Schools. “I appreciate Alabama Power’s interest in our students and our schools.”
Five judges – including Graham C. Boettcher, the William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art; and Bobbie Knight, Alabama Power vice president, Birmingham Division – settled on 15 finalists that best represented the theme in an artistic way.
“It’s impressive to me how they took the time and detail in telling stories with their artwork,” said Skipper.
“There was a clearly observed love of reading,” said Lake. “It was very exciting to see.”
“It was tough to choose!” said Knight. “The kids and teachers deserve a lot of credit.”
Judges deliberate best pieces of art in Refrigerator Art contest.
The Refrigerator Art contest is sponsored by Alabama Power’s Appliance Sales & Service Division. Alabama Power is one of the few utilities in the nation that sells electric appliances to consumers.
Also participating is Alabama Power Foundation’s Brighter Minds Initiative, which promotes early childhood education; science, technology, engineering and math coursework; and environmental stewardship in the classroom and field.
Parents and teachers of the 15 student finalists are invited to the ceremony on Tuesday. In addition to the refrigerators, the three winning schools will receive $1,000 each from the Alabama Power Foundation for their school libraries.
All 15 students will get a gift certificate from Books-A-Million. The 12 runners-up will also receive a free large one-topping pizza from Davenport’s Pizza Palace in Mountain Brook.
“Our sponsors have made a tremendous commitment to the city’s children,” said Alabama Power Market Specialist Katy Holley. “They understand the importance of arts and literacy to the entire community.”
The success of the Refrigerator Art contest may lead to similar events in other cities in 2016 and beyond.
“I would love to see it expanded across the state,” said Butrus.
The names and schools of the 15 student finalists:
Grades K-1
- Aamiyah Calhoun, Phillips Academy
- Krystalyn Menefield, Glen Iris Elementary
- Aven Thompson, Martha Gaskins Elementary
- Edeline Torres, Huffman Academy
- Trinity Wooden, Avondale Elementary
Grades 2-3
- Shekinah Bush, Phillips Academy
- Erick Don-Garcia, Huffman Academy
- Zaiderick Hayes, Avondale Elementary
- Steven Kampi, Glen Iris Elementary
- Melina Robles, Inglenook K-8
Grades 4-5
- Jerry Cruz-Apolinar, Martha Gaskins Elementary
- Widman Isrrael Cristobal Juarez, Hayes K-8
- Keiara Nakia Kelley, Hemphill Elementary
- Kourtlyn McCall, Oxmoor Valley Elementary
- Kirsten Smith, Phillips Academy
