Young artists go wild for Bainbridge art contest

She didn’t take the tiger by the tail.

Instead, Bainbridge High School sophomore Isabelle Ranson opted for a face-to-face staredown with the big cat.

It paid off. The artist’s work “Jungle,” a large acrylic depiction of a young girl and a tiger locked in each other’s eyes, won the Best of Show award at the 13th Annual Student Art Contest this past weekend at the Pavilion.

Ranson won a beautiful achievement certificate and prizes from local businesses like Café Nola, Soup’r Burger, Artist’s Edge, Calico Cat, Bainbridge Cinemas and the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District.

Youngsters and students from kindergarten through high school from across the island competed for first-, second- and third-place awards in eight different categories.

Organizers said there were about 150 entries this year, including a wonderful group of entries in the RecycleArt category.

The RecycleArt category prompted many creative entries, and top prizes went to Amanda Brady for “Spring Breeze,” and Rose Strasen for “Tall Alice.”

Top winners from each category received award certificates, and every student who entered the contest received a special ribbon at the end of the award ceremony at the Pavilion on Sunday,

March 3.

Local photographer Dinah Satterwhite is the founder and manager of the popular event, a parks district program, and Satterwhite working closed with Sue Hylen at the parks office to put the competition together.

The Best of Show and many of the first-place entries will be on display throughout March at Roby King Galleries (176 Winslow Way East).

The RecycleArt entries will be on display at Paper Products starting March 25 (256 Winslow Way East). A select group of entries will also be featured in a special exhibit through March 29 at the Verksted Gallery in Poulsbo (18937 Front St.).

A complete list of winners and photos from the event can be found on the Metro Park & Recreation District website: www.biparks.org.

Organizers of the event give many thanks to the students, volunteers, judges, parents, teachers, public school administration and local businesses that helped to make this event so successful.

Next year’s contest will be held on Sunday, March 2. Bainbridge Island students and residents aged kindergarten through high school can submit entries according to the official rules, which will be posted early next year.

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