Congratulations

CHAMPION (Gold)

Ella Ratliff — “Spheres of Influence”

During the Age of Enlightenment, innumerous brazen thinkers and radical movements sprung up in the aftermath of the Gutenberg Printing Press. Once a privilege belonging exclusively to the rich, books were seen as a luxury and many people were illiterate before the Renaissance. Now, with access to books suddenly becoming almost effortless and at no expense due to the Printing Press, ideas and theories about ourselves and our universe spread like wildfire. Science and art became central focuses, and people were learning and discovering more about everything they held dear. However, the strict confines of the Church laws of the century meant that many ideas could cost an innovator their life. Any ideas contradicting the Church and God were considered criminal.

Nicolaus Copernicus, an esteemed Renaissance polymath and influential astronomer, was the first to formulate a diagram stating that the Earth was not the center of the universe; rather, it was the Sun. This idea is called the “heliocentric theory.” Fully knowing he would inevitably be shamed for his ideas and threatened by the Church, Copernicus was forced to hide his ideas in tattered notebooks until a more accepting time arose. In my piece, I illustrate that same central idea of the Heliocentric theory, as well as many other Enlightenment philosophies and ideas. Ideas such as: the idea that women can do anything, that the earth is full of art and creativity, the idea that the Earth isn’t the center of the universe, and that you don’t have to stay inside the borders society built for you.

My piece is titled “Spheres of Influence”. I, the human figure, stand holding half of the Earth up into its rightful place in the Solar System. The Earth is painted in the half-circle to imitate a basket, hollow and filled with paintbrushes and other utensils. The celestial bodies orbiting around both me and the Sun are Venus, Uranus, and Halley’s Comet; all discovered and researched during the Enlightenment. The background and Solar System are directly representative of Copernicus’s Heliocentric diagram, which was brought to light after the Church relinquished its hold on radical thinkers. I utilize a style called Grisaille, which was used during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, to layer colors and build a scene.Using this technique allows the painter to establish an under-painting and tonal values using shades of greys, umbers, or greens.This style of painting I utilized to additionally show the connections between the scientific/natural world and the cultural genius of Renaissance art. Experimentation and the Scientific Method were key in both; Renaissance art was meant to show detailed perspectives to a curious audience, and that was achieved by experimentation with style and color, as well as trial and error. Realism, the human body, and humanism themes were apparent in both the scientific and artistic genius of the time period.

RUNNER-UP (Silver)

Quinn Grady — “The Eyes That Look Upon Us”

There will always be something that observes all that happens in history, whether it be the physical recollection of people or something more or so abstract than the linear way of thinking; art. The eyes that look upon us are just as real as us. While creating this piece,”The eyes that look upon us,” I had to go on a journey of my own to find what Renaissance was, though the only way I initially perceived the era hadn’t been very original. So instead of trying to envision other’s view of Da Vinci’s work and bring it to life, I instead decided to perceive his views through how I saw them, not how anyone else perceived his works.

There is a yearning for enlightenment, to be eternally at peace with oneself and their own knowledge. Though the enlightenment does not come from the divine, spiritual, or that of the supernatural. It instead came from the nature of humankind and the things that they as a whole have come to discover and create. In my artwork, the eyes have reached contentment in seeing the fruits of what one of mankind has in store for the future. The eyes are collectively everyone as a whole. The tears that run into the deep wonders and mysteries of this world pale in comparison to the subject at hand; fruits of what was soon to be all of mankind’s. Witnessing such a commodity be so close yet unable to grasp by those who only look on; a passerby.

In the woman’s hand she holds what the eyes long for. It’s not just an apple, but it’s something more than that. It’s everything that one person could accomplish on their own with their own freedom. To be the holder of something so perplexing yet inexplicably understandable to the wielder. In a sense we are all encapsulated; ensnared, and trapped in the figure’s gaze. She holds the fruits of her own labor and essentially we are all her as well as the apple and as well as the eyes that look onwards. For she is humanity.

Eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, windows to who we truly are. And through that window we gaze out into the open world eager to obtain that of which we see. To pursue knowledge for oneself, to nurture and allow our talents and accomplishments to grow without hindrance; that is enlightenment. To stray from one set society and foster our own goals and create for the betterment of the future.

HIGH HONORS (Bronze)

Victoria Chen — “Crystal Blobs”

The great artists of the Enlightenment period created unique and beautiful works of art that are still celebrated today. Through this work, I wanted to develop a unique and beautiful style that innovates on the tradition of self-portraiture. 

I created this self-portrait as an illustration of my soul. The colors are bright and varied, but fit together like puzzle pieces to make up my likeness. The shapes of the blobs are contradictory, both rough and randomly shaped yet smooth at the edges. The black and white blobs that make up my hair represent my tendency towards thinking in black and white. To add texture and complexity to the painting, I added clear quartz crystal chips. Each piece was individually placed and glued to spotlight the right hand. The clarity of the crystals preserves the color of the blobs but also enhances them. When the crystals are in direct sunlight, they sparkle like diamonds. After the chips are glued to a canvas, they remind me of pieces of immortal ice.  

When people have failed to understand, art has been there to express my inner being.  While I make art, I tend to take an abstract approach that mirrors my psyche. Most of my abstract art is fragmented and colorful, and I feel like my mind is the same way-both broken and integrated, colorful and bright. When I paint, I feel like my mind is slowly piecing itself together.

I think that in the Enlightenment era, artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo would have been inspired by this technique and would have also used it in their own paintings. 

I hope that this painting will inspire others to create their own work that reflects on their soul, much like the work of the great masters continue to inspire artists today.