A student receives an award at the Showcase of Excellence student reception on March 12.

A unique opportunity for art lovers to add young artists to their collections is coming up soon: Tryon Fine Arts Center is hosting the third annual Evening of Excellence reception and auction on Friday, April 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Many winners of the Showcase of Excellence juried high school art competition have offered their pieces for sale at auction that evening. A portion of the auction proceeds will go to the artist, with the remainder to go to funding the Be Inspired Grants, which award up to $500 to area teachers to bring the arts into their classrooms.

TFAC’s  Showcase of Excellence comprises entries in six categories: mixed media, photography, print making, painting, sculpture, and drawing. The works were judged by local artist Linda Hudgins, and were awarded first, second, third, and honorable mention.

All entries are now on display in Gallery I at TFAC. Art patrons are urged to call TFAC at 828-859-8322 to secure tickets for the Evening of Excellence reception and auction.

Art teachers at each of the schools represented are James Parker, Greer High School; Jeff Thomas, Polk County High School; Cathey Stoney, Landrum High School; Alysse Searcy, Lake Lure Classical Academy; and Jennifer Telleri and Ashley Burnett, Chapman High School. The following are the winners in each category:

Drawing

First: My Escape, Kiyah Anderson, Greer High School

Second: Starman, Caelum McCall, Polk County High School

Third: Grandfather’s Watch, Ryan McCullough, Greer High School

Honorable Mention: Off the Wall, Damarion Kellett, Greer High School; and Half Full, Laura Brown, Greer High School

Mixed Media

First: Gunpati, Kerai Payal, Landrum High School

Second: Accumulation, Laura Ford, Landrum High School

Third: The Sunset Skinned Woman, Kristen Martinez, Polk County High School

Honorable Mention: To Create the Art, the Art Must Create You, Kaytie Johnson, Lake Lure Classical Academy; and

Struggle, Daniel Morris, Landrum High School

Painting

First: Doll House, Logan Bates, Polk County High School

Second: Beyond the Woods, Adriana Talley, Polk County High School

Third: Yellowstone, Ryan McCullough, Greer High School

Honorable Mention: Green Hopper, Noah Owenby, Chapman High School; and Paper Frame, Logan Bates, Polk County High School

Photography

First: Imagine, Kelly Melindez, Greer High School

Second: See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Katelyn Larke, Greer High School

Third: Time to Split, Johnee McGowens, Greer High School

Honorable Mention: Behind the Lines, Megan Schaffer, Greer High School

Printmaking

First: Bell, Monica Levister, Landrum High School

Second: Reagan, Tanya Shelest, Chapman High School

Sculpture

First: The Flower Garden, Garrison Halford, Chapman High School

Second: Faces, Atticus Sherrill, Lake Lure Classical Academy

Third: Face Jug, Cameron Silva, Chapman High School

Honorable Mention: Watercolors & Flowers, Atticus Sherrill & Kaytie Johnson, Lake Lure Classical Academy