CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA (April 18, 2024) – The winners of the inaugural Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Art Competition were announced Tuesday during the regular meeting of the board.
“I want to thank the artists for participating in this first ever art competition,” said Cherokee County Chairman Harry Johnston. “We expect that this competition will grow in the coming years with the school system engaged.”
The project was spearheaded by Diana Ruslin, a local resident and member of the Rotary Club of Towne Lake, which sponsored the event. The Cherokee County School District and Friends of the Libraries also partnered for the competition.
The theme of the inaugural event was Rivers of Cherokee County, and artists were invited to use the medium of their choice.
Linley Lowe, of Woodstock High School, won first place for “Autumn Rivers,” acrylic and oil pastels. Lowe’s prize was a $500 scholarship, certificate and ribbon.
Addison Daniel, of Woodstock High School, earned second place for her untitled piece utilizing nail art supplies. Her prize was a $250 scholarship, certificate and ribbon.
Third-place went to Etowah High School student, Regan Kadlub, for her oil painting, “Dragonfly.” Kadlub’s prize was a $150 scholarship, certificate and ribbon.
Cherokee High School student Dina Becovic won the Cherokee Choice award and received a $50 gift certificate. Her work, “What We Eat,” was created with acrylic and tempura paint.
Sheriff Frank Reynolds, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; Katie Caldwell, president of the Woodstock Arts Board of Directors; Harmony Reid, Visual Art Education Manager for Woodstock Arts; and Nicole Lampl, director/curator of the Reeves House Visual Arts Center in Woodstock were judges and chose the winners of the competition based on a points system.
The Cherokee Choice award was voted on by residents who visited the Community Room at R.T. Jones Library to view the artwork.
Honorable mentions were given to the other entrants including Becovic; from Etowah High School, Sophia Wadsworth, Kayla Brown, Kate Rowell, and Megan Torres; and from Woodstock High School, Rebecca Edison, Elisa Williams-Morales, and Lukas Parrado.
“Thank you to Diana and the Rotary Club of Towne Lake for bringing this competition to our attention and to CCSD and Friends of the Libraries for their partnership,” said Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds, who managed the competition for Cherokee County. “I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the judges who took time from their busy schedules to judge the submitted artwork.”
