Best in Show
Sarah Pan
AP Portfolio
1st Place: Anna Treadway
Honorable Mention: Alexis Otto
Drawing
1st Place: Sarah Pan
2nd Place: Anna Treadway
3rd Place: Chloe Huang
Honorable Mention: Sarah Pan
Symmes Township, Ohio – “In the end, it was so worth the effort,” Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) Fine Arts Director, Mona Summers. “I would do it all again in a heartbeat to be able to share the gifts and talents of our students.”
When it was clear CHCA’s 22nd Annual ArtBeat arts festival would have to be canceled, it was so disappointing according to Summers. ArtBeat is a day-long celebration of the visual and performing arts that brings the entire CHCA community together – from the youngest preschoolers through Grade 12.
The committee had already been working on the event for many months. To learn that all the work would be for nothing was difficult, but not as difficult as knowing the students would not be able to share their beautiful artwork and performances with the community. It was then that a plan for Virtual ArtBeat began so that at least part of ArtBeat could be shared with the community.
This is an original song entitled “My House” by Lauren M. is based on the passage Matthew 7:24-27. “I wrote this song originally in January when I was facing the fears of college and moving on in the next phase of my life. I wanted to write a song that would remind me of my foundation and that I will be okay. It’s crazy how much I need to hear these lyrics right now though. During this corona virus and the passing of one of my closest friends, God is speaking to me through my own song lyrics. He wants me to continue to build my house on the Rock.”
After working for months on all that goes into ArtBeat, which typically draws over 2,200 people, the committee had to pivot quickly in order to plan and implement a Virtual ArtBeat to draw hundreds in, well, virtually.
Summers, immediately reached out to the visual art teachers to share with them her vision of Virtual ArtBeat and they were excited and ready to do the work it would take to make this possible. Of course, the reality of the work required was much more difficult than they imagined, but they were still excited to have the opportunity to share their students’ artwork with the community.
Summers then reached out to the ArtBeat auditioned performers to ask them if they would like to be a part of Virtual ArtBeat, which required them to send in videos of their performances.
Layout and Design
1st Place: Catherine Frazer
2nd Place: Joey Shafer
3rd Place: Samuel Davis
Honorable Mention: Hailey Wichard
Painting
1st Place: Jacqueline Clayton
2nd Place: Marissa Mao
3rd Place: Hailey Williams
4th Place: Jake Younkin
5th Place: Aidan Hook
Honorable Mention: Jonah Bolander
Instructor’s Choice
Chloe Huang
Many of the ensemble auditions were not able to participate in light of sheltering in place at home per Governor’s orders. However, there were some duets who got very creative in order to share their videos. A few videos from auditions that parents took from the sidelines were able to be shared, as well as videos from dance competitions where dancers competed with the same pieces they performed at auditions. Summers then pulled together a schedule for the Virtual ArtBeat event and the behind-the-scenes work to put it all online commenced.
As in the typical live and in-person ArtBeat, there are so many notable Virtual ArtBeat highlights. 1,435 pieces of artwork and 68 performance videos were included. In addition, the committee held a Juried Art Competition as part of the virtual event.
Virtual ArtBeat lasted fifteen days, beginning Friday, May 1, and ending Friday, May 15. Each day at 5:30 PM, new artwork and performances were released to virtual audiences.
Curious to see what you missed? Virtual ArtBeat is still available online.
Summers said, “The support and feedback from the community was phenomenal.” Many people commented that the webpages hosting content were visually appealing and well laid out so that it was easy to follow and find things. “But mostly, it was the wonderful feedback received from students, parents, and faculty who said they were thrilled Virtual ArtBeat was being shared since ArtBeat had to be canceled.”
Students and parents alike were very thankful to be able to participate in Virtual ArtBeat and that it was accessible to the entire community.
