of award-winning wildlife art now at Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville.
The artwork of twelve local students who placed First, Second, Third or Honorable Mention are represented among one-hundred paintings now on display December in the 2004 Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Wildlife Art
Exhibition. The exhibition ends December 30.
Sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to promote interest in wildlife conservation, all entries must be of North American ducks, geese or swans and pass the scrutiny of a panel of professional wildlife
biologists and artists. Categories include Kindergarten to 3rd grade (Group 1), 4-6 grades (Group 2), 7-9 grades (Group 3), and 10-12 grades (Group 4). A study guide is provided to assist teachers, parents and students in their research.
Maranatha Christian Academy in Gainesville produced 10 winners in
three of four age categories. Selected from among 850 entries, these ten young artists include Tasia Gibson and David Patterson winning 1st Place in Group 1 and Group 3 respectively; Olivia Burns winning 2nd place in Group 1, and Paul Powers placing 3rd Place in Group 1. Honorable Mentions at Maranatha went to Rebecca Benefield, Scarlett Harris, Cara Hart, Autumn Fitzgerald and Naomi Rivera. Also, Clay Bennett, who attends Maranatha Christian Academy, but is from Forsyth County, won 1st Place in Group Two.
Michael Cave from Chestnut Mountain Elementary, Gainesville, placed Second
in Group 1. Three additional student winners, who submitted winning entries, attend Sardis Elementary School, also in Gainesville. John Farina, Emily Elder and Harrison Yarger all won Honorable Mentions in their age groups for their portrayal of wildlife. Digital images winning of all the winning artwork may be seen at http://Athens.fws.gov. (See link below).
Also on display is Georgia's 2004 "Best of Show" winner, Blue-winged teal, painted by Whitney Barton of Lawrenceville. Whitney's artwork was also awarded an Honorable Mention at the National Junior Duck Stamp Art
competition in Washington, D.C. Whitney is now majoring in art education at the University of Georgia after graduating from Collins Hill High School.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/12/144819