'That was our legacy'

MOSCOW — Accolades of two varieties are in order for Silver Valley art students. 

In last month’s 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley, the theme of student artwork centered around “Inheritance.”  In total, the works of 63 artists from Kellogg and Wallace were on display at the Tin Snug in Wallace.

Olivia Therrian of won best in show for “The Tarnished and the Naïve.” 

“Tribal Heir” won Kami Watson second place and “Generational Inheritance” by Macy Jerome and “Qualities” by Kyanna Parks earned third place. Jerome’s work also was awarded the people’s choice.

Four students were later selected to show their work in the University of Idaho's Art and Architecture High School Exhibition. 

“The Dragonfly” by Gemma Miller (sophomore), "Mother Bird" by Emily Coe (senior), “Generational Inheritance” by Macy Jerome (senior) and  "Alfred Eugene Hunter" by Kyanna Parks (junior) will have their artwork included in the exhibition, which runs from April 18 to May 12. 

‘The Dragonfly’

Gemma Miller said she was shocked when her name was read as one of the four artists being featured in the U of I exhibition.

“My parents, art teacher, etc. are always supporting me and love my work even if I don't like it,” Miller said.

Her artwork, “The Dragonfly” emerged as a concept after she learned that they were the symbol for adoption. 

“I struggled on what to draw, but eventually I got it; adoption. In my family, that was our legacy, my sisters and I were adopted from China. I wanted to create a piece of art that relates to me and my family,” Miller said.

Red string became a focal point since red was the lucky color in Chinese culture. 

She also drew on folklore surrounding an invisible red string connecting those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or the circumstances. 

“Putting string on my art, I tied bow knots connecting both wings together as one,” Miller said. 

‘Alfred Eugene Hunter’

Kyanna Parks brought back a piece she had created for last year’s Silver Valley art show.

“Originally my idea was to do a soldier piece but then I found out one of my family members was and I got the whole story about my grandpa,” Parks said. 

“I didn’t really expect it, but it's definitely given me reassurance that I can do it and there’s a possibility of a career in it,” Parks said.

“Alfred Eugene Hunter” had an honorable discharge and received a Purple Heart. Parks said to have her portrait of a family member recognized by the University of Idaho was a “cool accomplishment for us.”

‘Tribal Heir’

Kami Watson considers herself a perfectionist, so being awarded second place in the Silver Valley show was a surprise.

“I’ve never won with any of my pieces and so winning this year was definitely one of the highlights of my senior year and really showed what I can accomplish,” Watson said. 

She hopes her artwork has impacted other people and perhaps even shifted their perspective of their own background.

“I’m Native American, my tribe is Choctaw and I inherited that from my dad’s side of the family. I interpreted it into my artwork by using many aspects, but the main ones were the feathers, eagle and the dreamcatcher,” Watson said.

Acrylic and pen and ink artwork are the two main mediums she vacillates between.

‘Mother Bird’

Nature is a major source of inspiration for Emily Coe and when she pondered the concept of family inheritance, that translated to animals standing in for her family members.

She spent a lot of time at her grandmother's home and wanted to commemorate that.

“The big mother bird is my grandmother, and the baby birds are me, my brother and my cousin,” Coe said.

Pen and ink sketches of animals and wildlife are her favorite ways to express herself through artwork and she hopes to start branching into transforming her pieces into stickers.

“I’ve never really gotten recognized for my artwork before so it was really exciting,” Coe said.

The 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley winners:

Best in Show: “The Tarnished and the Naïve” by Olivia Therrian (Wallace)

2nd Place: “Tribal Heir” by Kami Watson (Kellogg)

3rd Place: “Generational Inheritance” by Macy Jerome (Kellogg)

3rd Place: “Qualities” by Kyanna Parks (Kellogg)

People’s Choice: “Generational Inheritance” by Macy Jerome

Honorable Mentions:

“Left in the Past” by Avaleigh Fisher (Wallace)

“The Heir of Prior Perceptions” by Tristan Reed (Wallace)

If you go

What: The Art and Architecture High School Exhibition exhibition

When: April 18 and close May 12 

Where: University of Idaho campus in Moscow

    "Mother Bird" by Emily Coe is being shown at the University of Idaho's Art and Architecture High School Exhibition.
  

    “Tribal Heir” by Kami Watson placed second in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley.

  

    "Alfred Eugene Hunter" by Kyanna Parks will be shown as part of the University of Idaho's Art and Architecture High School Exhibition.
  

    Olivia Therrian won best in show for her art, “The Tarnished and the Naïve” in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley.

  

    Macy Jerome was awarded third place and the People's Choice in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley. Her work, “Generational Inheritance,” will also be on display at the University of Idaho's Art and Architecture High School Exhibition.
  

    “Qualities” by Kyanna Parks earned third place in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley.
  

    “The Heir of Prior Perceptions” by Tristan Reed was awarded an honorable mention in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley.
  

    “Left in the Past” by Avaleigh Fisher received an honorable mention in the 2024 High School Art Exhibition of the Silver Valley.