For Immediate Release
February 4, 2004

Media Contacts:
Gabriel Riera: 305.375.1706
griera@miamidade.gov
Maile Rodriguez: 305.375.1705
maile@miamidade.gov

Winning Artwork From Local High School Students
On view at MAM
January 25 – February 15, 2004

Miami Art Museum is hosting this year’s Miami-Dade County Public Schools Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition, an annual exhibit of artwork produced by Miami-Dade County high school students. The local awards are part of the regional and national Scholastic Art Awards competition. The winning student artwork will be on view through February 15, 2004.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards was established in 1923 by Maurice R. Robinson, founder of Scholastic Inc., to reward the creative achievements of students in grades 7 through 12 and to recognize excellence in teaching. These Awards are the largest, longest running and most prestigious student recognition program in America.

The regional awards ceremony took place at MAM on Sunday, January 25, 2004, in conjunction with the exhibition. Six hundred students along with families and friends attended the event, which included a reception with refreshments on the plaza, followed by the awards ceremony. Peter Boswell, Assistant Director of Programs/Senior Curator at Miami Art Museum, made an introduction. Awards were juried by Lorie Mertes, MAM Curator, and Cheryl Hartup, MAM Associate Curator. Awards were distributed by Bill Chiodo and Ray Azcuy, M-DCPS District Art Supervisors.

.At the conclusion of this regional exhibition, sponsored by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, top award-winning artworks are forwarded to the national program in New York City. Works of art and writing are submitted for the national jury process by 80 regions from across America. A distinguished panel of prominent artists, writers, and arts professionals selects the national awards. National awardees will be honored at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Ceremony in Carnegie Hall. National events take place in both New York and Washington, DC.

Many of our nations most accomplished artists and writers are alumni of The Awards including Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, Frances Farmer, Joyce Maynard, Joyce Carol Oates, Sylvia Plath, Robert Redford, and Andy Warhol.

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