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Since 1987, Jim Dodson has been an art teacher in the Oak Ridge school system. In 1998, he was recognized as the Tennessee Art Educator of the Year, and in 1999, he was named the National Middle School Art Educator of the Year. Dodson is a board member and past president of the Tennessee Art Education Association. He also currently serves as a city councilman in his hometown of Oak Ridge.
Patricia Hudson is a retired visual art teacher from Dickson, Tennessee. Since retiring in 2016, she has served as a TAA volunteer during the year and as an office facilitator during the Arts Academy. Hudson has also served as president of numerous local arts organizations over the years and is on the board of an art gallery in the Dickson area. She enjoys pursuing her personal art career in watercolor and polymer clay. Her artwork appears in many collections locally and around the world.
Each afternoon during this time slot, TAA will recognize and honor different student artists from across the state who were winners in the 2021 Best of the Best student art competition. Please join us to meet these bright and talented student winners as they share their artwork, their artistic visions, and their hopes and ambitions for the future.
Monday, July 12
Imelia Markus-Brock, 9th Grade, Best in Drawing, “Eye Spy”, Charcoal Drawing, Oak Ridge High School, Teacher-Gisela Schrock, East Tennessee;
Kaylee Brownlee, 8th Grade, Best in Photography, “My Creation in the Leaves”, Bearden Middle School, Teacher-Kimberly Bishop, East Tennessee;
Briley Kotler, 12th Grade, Best in Show, “Discovering Self”, Mixed Media Acrylic, Hendersonville High, Teacher-Sandra Kandros, Middle Tennessee;
Kayleigh Kemper, 11th Grade, Best in Computer Graphics, “A Late Night Stroll”, Computer Graphics, Adamsville High School, Teacher-Lisa Engle, West Tennessee
Tuesday, July 13
Tristan Howard, 7th Grade, Best in Printmaking, “Atlantic Puffin”, Linoleum Block Print, The McCallie School, Teacher-Suzanne Mortimer, East Tennessee;
Mary Jane Estes, 11th Grade, Best in Painting, “Hurt”, Painting, Lipscomb Academy, Teacher- Erin Rickelton, Middle Tennessee;
Emma Allen, 12th Grade, Best in Sculpture, “Woven Heritage”, Sculpture, Brentwood High School, Teacher-Heather McHugh, Middle Tennessee;
Ella Shelton, 12th Grade, Best in Show, “Sucked into the Game”, Charcoal Drawing, University School of Jackson, Teacher-Libby Lynch, West Tennessee
Wednesday, July 14
Lily Asbury, 11th Grade, Best in Show, “The Days We’ll Look Back and Smile”, Acrylic Painting, Cocke County High School, Teacher-Myra Amason, East Tennessee;
Kenzie West, 12th Grade, Best in Mixed Media, “Scars”, Brentwood Academy, Teacher-Janet Laws, Middle Tennessee;
Luke Meng, 7th Grade, Best in Middle School, “Which Way the Wind Blows”, Drawing, Elaine Newley Studio”, Teacher-Elaine Neeley, West Tennessee
Thursday, July 15
Aurora Baez, 8th Grade, Best in Painting,”Orchids”, Painting, Bearden Middle School, Teacher- Kimberly Bishop, East Tennessee;
Avery Flatford, 11th Grade, Best in Ceramics, “Mr. Tentacles”, Ceramic Clay – Raku Fired, Farragut High School, Teacher-Wendie Love, East Tennessee;
Jackson Preisler, 10th Grade, Best in Printmaking,”Dark Statue”, Printmaking, Montgomery Bell Academy, Teacher-Ms. Swica-Brockman, Middle Tennessee;
Clayton Bowers, 12th Grade, Best in Video, “The Game the Bricks Play”, Video, University School of Jackson, Teacher-Libby Lynch, West Tennessee
Friday, July 16
Brian Barbo, 12th Grade, Best in Sculpture, “Ingrain”, Wood, Metal, and Found Objects, Hardin Valley Academy, Teacher-Benjamin Eng, East Tennessee;
Cadence Cole, 11th Grade, Best in Computer Graphics, Untitled, Independence High School, Teacher-Stephanie Prewitt, Middle Tennessee;
LydiaSummers, 12th Grade, Best in Printmaking, “Pretty in Pink”, Printmaking, Briarcrest Christian School, Teacher-Jenna Ferguson-West, West Tennessee
