Art and Writing Accolades for RL Boys

5Faces, by Dylan Zhou
Into the Blue, by Erik Zou
Explode, by Dylan Zhou
Peeling Facade, by Dylan Zhou
Shhhh, by Dylan Zhou
Constrictor, by Dylan Zhou
Choices, by Dylan Zhou
Scrutiny, by Dylan Zhou
Dreaming, by Erik Zou
East Meets West, by Erik Zou

This winter, several RL boys earned recognition for their visual art and writing creations. In the 2018 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, four boys earned a combined 20 awards in categories ranging from painting and portfolio, to humor writing and critical essay.

 

Erik Zou (II) won 12 awards for 15 art entries—earning three Gold Keys for his paintings In the Blue and Dreaming, as well as for his entry in the drawing and illustration category titled East Meets West. Erik also earned four Silver Keys and five Honorable Mentions. Dylan Zhou (I) won a Gold Key for his Portfolio work. (RL’s last winner in this category was internationally-renown painter Winston Chmielinski, Class of 2006.) Dylan also earned two Silver Keys and two Honorable Mentions. Andrew Zhang (III) won an Honorable Mention in painting; and Adam Berk (II) won a Gold Key for a piece of humor writing titled “Advisor Letter.” Adam also earned an Honorable Mention for his critical essay submission.

 

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious competitions for high school artists. Since 1923, the Scholatistic Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity and talent of young people and have provided the opportunity for creative teens to be recongnized and celebrated. The Award’s alumni include Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Bernard Malamud, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Redford, Alan Arkin, Lena Dunham, John Lithgow, Zac Posen and Ken Burns. All Gold Key winners will move on to the national level of competition in the spring.

 

Erik’s work was also chosen as one of 66 from among 800 artworks submitted for the Emerging Young Artists 2018 Juried Exhibition, sponsored by Umass Dartmouth. Dean David Klamen, of the school’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, selected works to be displayed in the Campus Gallery, for the highly-competitive exhibition, for which nearly 500 students submitted their work from 35 high school art programs in New England. Erik’s work was also recently on exhibit as part of a solo show held at the West Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library this winter.