Posted on May - 10 - 2010
Art competition builds appreciation of history
If the goal was to inspire young people to appreciate architecture and historic buildings, the Architecture and Youth Art Competition seemed to hit its target.
This watercolor of the Mollie Fontaine House at 679 Adams by White Station High School ninth-grader Megan Lee won “Best of Show” in the Architecture and Youth Art Competition organized by Memphis Heritage and AIA Memphis.
“This Midtown building appealed to me because its grand presence gave it an air of elegance,” White Station High ninth-grader Megan Lee writes about the 124-year-old Mollie Fountaine House at 679 Adams. Lee’s short essay accompanied her watercolor, which won “Best of Show.”
The exhibit of 13 works is on display through the end of May at Memphis Heritage’s Howard Hall, 2282 Madison at Edgewood.
The preservation group partnered with American Institute of Architects (AIA) Memphis in organizing the competition for the seventh year.
The event honors National Preservation Month.
Fewer entries were submitted this year, “but we think the quality of the work is just superb,” said June West, executive director of Memphis Heritage.
A team of architects judged the art. “This year, entries were phenomenal,” said Heather Koury, executive director of AIA Memphis.
White Station High 10th-grader Yidan Zeng won first place for her acrylic painting of the Woodruff Fontaine House.
“The interesting color scheme appealed to the artist in me,” Zeng writes, adding the house “has an air of elegance and mystery.”
Shola Wylie, an 11th-grader at White Station, also rendered the Mollie Fontaine House. “I fell in love with its simple elegance and found the colors of the house to be very striking,” she said.
“I love the deep red brick against the snow white windows.”
One student, 11th-grader Anna Liley of White Station, chose a different subject. Her view of the Downtown skyline from Mud Island embraced a mix of modern and historic buildings from a distance.
Liley, who received an honorable mention, writes that she enjoyed the buildings’ shapes and placement, adding the scene “brings forth a feeling of tranquility and happiness.”
Alejandra Arcos, 11th- grader at Kingsbury High, won third place.
Also receiving honorable mention were Camille Curtis, seventh grade, Colonial Middle; and Keriyon Hunter, 10th grade, Kingsbury High.
– Tom Bailey Jr.: 529-2388
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