Students showcase Eucharistic artwork in first Catholic school visual arts exhibition
Twenty-seven students representing 14 schools of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis were finalists in the Catholic School Visual Arts Exhibition May 3 at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Saint Paul. The students’ artwork depicted the theme of “The Eucharist.” Independent artist Bernadette Gockowski, iconographer Nicholas Markell and interior designer James Noble served as judges and selected winning pieces from seven Catholic school students:
7th-9th Grade Category
10th-12th Grade Category
Best of Show
The students received certificates and monetary prizes, and their artwork will be displayed at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center.
The visual arts exhibition for 7th-12 grade students was the inaugural event sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for the Mission of Catholic Education. Student artists and their families, friends and art teachers gathered at the ACC for the exhibition with Auxiliary Bishop Michael Izen and Father Tim Tran, parochial vicar at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church and School in Anoka, who served as emcee. All the finalists’ artwork will be displayed at the ACC during a September open house.
“With Jesus Christ at the center of our Catholic schools, promoting a Eucharistic theme for our first arts exhibition was fitting and inspiring,” said Dr. Jason Slattery, director of Catholic education and superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese. “We were thrilled to host this event to encourage and showcase the artistic talents of our upper-level Catholic school students.”
The theme also promoted the National Eucharistic Revival that’s under way.