|
Clarion Ledger: Mississippi News Art vents students' creativity
Plenty of middle-schoolers have all but memorized the Harry Potter books and the mystique that surrounds them. It wasn't too much of a stretch, then, for Jackson district students in grades 6-8 to use their creativity to link Harry Potter's world of magic to British-born actress Jane Seymour and her new home decor collection, St. Catherine's Village. "What do Jane Seymour and Harry Potter have in common? They both live in castles," said Jeff Simpson, vice president of special events for McRae's Department Stores. McRae's and Seymour teamed to give Jackson students a chance to let their artistic talents take center stage by drawing dream castles. The top three received accolades for their art, which hangs at the McRae's store in Northpark mall. Their schools also got a boost — up to $1,000 for the art program at each campus. "We give the kids an opportunity to express themselves, and it allows us the opportunity to make a donation to the school," Simpson said. When Seymour said it was imperative that her new product line be launched with a benefit to the local community, McRae's responded with a contest partnering middle school students with the images of a castle. Students over the past several weeks were instructed to draw a picture of their own castle using pencil, charcoal, oil, paint, crayons, markers or watercolor. More than 500 responded, with 64 semifinalists competing for the three top spots. Courtney Chapman, an eighth-grader at Blackburn Middle School, emerged as first-place winner and took home a $100 gift certificate from McRae's; his school received $1,000 for its art program. And he got an added bonus: Saturday night, he got to meet Seymour, star of TV's Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. "I feel good," Chapman said of the honor. He said it took him days to draw the castle using an array of colors to make it look more realistic. "I even added my own flag and initials on the castle," he said. "Art is a gift," Horace Buckley, the Jackson district's assistant superintendent of middle schools, said during the awards presentation last week. "To have a gift, you have to give your very best, and these students have given their best effort." Second-place winner was Breanna Franklin, an eighth-grader at Hardy Middle School. Franklin received a $50 gift certificate to McRae's and her school received $500. Aa'rica Crawford, an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School, came in
third place. Crawford won a $25 gift certificate and the school received
$250. |