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Artists attending Franklin, Southampton and Windsor high schools are being highlighted as part of the Rawls Museum Arts’ Regional High School Art Exhibition that features the work of students from across seven high schools in the region.

The exhibition runs from May 7-30 at Rawls Museum Arts (RMA), which is located at 22376 Linden St. Extended in Courtland.

Five Windsor High School students, four Southampton High School students, three Franklin High School students and three Southampton Academy students were recognized with awards during the exhibition’s opening reception Wednesday, May 7.

Southampton High’s Rebecca Lora placed first in the 3D category of the Regional High School Show Awards with a jacket she created titled “Phoenix.”

Among the awards handed out by the Franklin City Educational Foundation Inc., Franklin High’s Jayme Wright, who is a freshman, earned the first-place ribbon for his piece titled “Untitled” that was made with charcoal and graphite.

Among the Rawls Museum Arts Staff Awards, Southampton High’s Jayden Dickens earned the first-place ribbon for his piece titled “Helldiver 1,000-Yard Stare” that he created using a 3D printer, with sanding and paint work that followed.

RMA Interim Executive Director Jane Riddick-Fries welcomed the crowd attending the May 7 reception, sharing insights on the museum and its purpose.

“The mission of the Rawls Museum Arts is to promote, encourage, develop interest in, knowledge of, appreciation for and practice of the arts while providing collective cultural enrichment for the community,” she said. “Since its inception in 1958, Rawls Museum Arts has aimed to enrich the lives of people in our area by fostering a love for and engagement with the arts.”

She introduced RMA’s new art education director, Holly Gizzi.

Gizzi said, “We’re honored to be here, all of us tonight, to celebrate Southampton High School, Tidewater Academy, Sussex Central High School, Windsor High School, Surry (County) High School and also Southampton Academy and Franklin High School.

“First and foremost we should be thanking the students,” she said. “Your courage to show up, create and share your unique vision is inspiring.”

“I think the thing that I talked about with a couple of the high schools that I went to visit was you don’t even realize that just by hanging your work on this wall how you inspire others,” she continued. “You may never know. They may tell you, you may never find out, but you could be inspiring new artists. Art comes in every shape and size, so you just don’t know who you’re inspiring. Therefore it’s that important that you show up and put yourself out there. So we appreciate that.”

She thanked parents for their support, art teachers for their passion and dedication, and administrators for valuing education and helping make opportunities like the RMA’s Regional High School Art Exhibition accessible.

“Tonight is a celebration of how art empowers and inspires us all,” she said. “It opens minds, sparks growth and invites connection. The variety of work here, the 3D, the photography and the 2D in countless mediums — it is extraordinary. Each piece contributes to a vibrant collective voice. Students, please keep creating. Your voice and your vision matters.”

Gizzi noted that there were four different judges of the exhibition’s artwork, resulting in four sets of awards. Franklin City Educational Foundation Inc. exclusively judged the work of Franklin students. Beth Netts is an accomplished artist, designer and educator based in Suffolk who served as a main judge of the Regional High School Show Awards. The Blackwater Artists League judged the exhibition, as did the RMA staff.

Following are the honorees from the four judged art contests:

REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SHOW AWARDS

2D Category

1st place:  “I See You” by Lilly Kates of Surry County High School

2nd place: “Memento Viva” by MK Emerson of Windsor High School

3rd place: “Self Reflection” by Ivy O’Neil of Southampton High School 

3D Category

1st place: “Phoenix” by Rebecca Lora of Southampton High School

2nd place: “Peaceful Depth” by Izzie Ketchum of Tidewater Academy

3rd place: “Dancing Stick Bug” by Daniel Rascon of Tidewater Academy

Photography Category

1st place: “2 Faced” by Jakyra Thomas of Surry County High School

2nd place: “Weaved Reality” by Jessica Pereyra of Surry County High School

3rd place: “The Drip” by Connor Fillmore of Tidewater Academy

Best of Show

“Aaron Paul” by Daniel Gibson of Sussex Central High School

BLACKWATER ARTISTS LEAGUE AWARDS

1st place: “Bunny” by Kimani Mason of Sussex Central High School

2nd place: “Bella The Cat” by Kelsea Etheridge of Southampton Academy

3rd place: “Rango” by Austin Elswick of Tidewater Academy

Honorable Mention

“Home” by Danica Vega of Surry County High School

“Shelly Duvall” by Kimberly Villeda of Sussex Central High School

FRANKLIN CITY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARDS

1st place: “Untitled” by Jayme Wright of Franklin High School

2nd place: “Untitled” by Sophia Wood of Franklin High School

3rd place: “Emotion” by Forest Ho of Franklin High School

RAWLS MUSEUM ARTS STAFF AWARDS

1st place: “Helldiver 1,000-Yard Stare” by Jayden Dickens of Southampton High School

2nd place: “Jumbo Bead Lizard Party” by Evelyn Clark of Southampton Academy

3rd place: “Cape Lookout Lighthouse” by Eden Powell of Windsor High School

Honorable Mention

“National Defenders” by Samyra Ward of Windsor High School

“Fortress of Illusion” by Isabella Pevahouse of Windsor High School

“En Masse” by Mikey Claffey of Southampton Academy

“Toucan Sam” by Kailey Baker of Windsor High School

“Blob” by Ryann Benson of Southampton High School

“Artsy Me” by Tyteeanna Almonte of Sussex Central High School

“Eldritch” by Zariah Harrell of Surry County High School