Young artists walk the red carpet at Artizens Event

Piedmont Federal Presents the Artizens Competition for Its Eighth Year

Winston-Salem, NC – April 20, 2018 – The art of Winston-Salem’s best young artists was celebrated at the annual Artizens event held at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts Thursday night.  Sponsored and originated by Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, the Artizens competition is open to high school artists from Forsyth, Davie, and northern Davidson Counties.  The theme for the night was The Oscars with the venue decorated with a red carpet, a paparazzi wall for photos, and movie props throughout.  “We focus on creating a special event for these young artists, their teachers, and the public highlighting the importance of art education and the development of tomorrow’s creative thinkers,” commented Ginger Salt, Piedmont Federal, Senior Vice President – CMO.  “The Artizens program is a great way to inspire high school artists to further explore their creative talents and to help fund art education at the same time.”

Each participating high school can submit up to five pieces of art which are displayed at Piedmont Federal offices. The community is encouraged to visit the bank’s branches to vote for their favorites to win the People’s Choice awards.  All of the art is then taken to the Milton Rhodes Center where the Overall Artizens Winner and an Honorable Mention award are selected by a panel of three judges.  In addition, a Facebook Favorite is selected based on the votes cast on Facebook where all of the art is displayed.  Artists receive cash prizes along the way in increasing amounts as they win at the various levels as do the high school art departments to help fund art education.  This year 79 pieces of art made it to the Milton Rhodes Center for judging representing 17 area high schools.

The People’s Choice winners selected by the public at each of the Piedmont Federal branches in the area were as follows:

• Heather Sigmon / West Forsyth / Art Title: Untitled / Branch: Clemmons
• Maggie Malloy / Paisley / Art Title: Nathaniel Isaiah Bazemore / Branch: Downtown
• Angela Loya / Carver / Art Title: Untitled / Branch: Hanes Mill
• Andy Li / Mt. Tabor / Art Title: Eyes of Wisdom / Branch: Peace Haven
• Brittney Bodsford / Walkertown / Art Title: Waterfalls / Branch: Kernersville
• Lauren Waterman / Reagan / Art Title: Cutting Populations / Branch: Reynolda
• Hayley Heilman / North Davidson / Art Title: Spilled Sorrow / Branch: Southpark
• Lydia Spears / RJ Reynolds / Art Title: Reynolds the Cat / Branch: Stratford

Over 7,000 people reviewed the art submissions posted on Facebook.  This year’s Facebook Favorite was Addison Doss from Career Center for her piece entitled, Evening Reflections.  Voting on Facebook was particularly strong this year allowing students to view and share art and ideas across social media.

The Overall 2018 Artizens Winner was Nyah Hairston from RJ Reynolds High School for the work entitled, Salud.  The Honorable Mention award for Artizens went to Sarah Frisbie from West Forsyth High School for Self Portrait in Purple.  “What started eight years ago as a way to help support local high school art programs has grown to be an outstanding art competition, a tradition for Piedmont Federal, and an exciting gathering of the community and young artists,” remarked Mike Hauser, Piedmont Federal, President – COO.  “We look forward to Artizens each year.”

The judges for the Artizens event were Keith Hobgood (Illustrator Director at Out of Our Minds Animation Studios,) Joanne Moore (Professor, School of Filmmaking at University of North Carolina School of the Arts,) and Maria Knuckley Robinson (Artist, Salem Academy Instructor, and Secondary Division Chair for the North Carolina Arts Education Association.)  “With this being my second year serving as a judge for Artizens, I thought the judging process might be easier, but it wasn’t as the art is really outstanding,” explained Keith Hobgood, an artist himself and Illustration Director with Out of Our Minds Animation Studios.  “It is inspiring for me to see all of the talent represented by this new generation of artists.”

The Artizens program provides funds to seventeen area high school art departments that participate in the competition.  Many of the students have gone on to study art and related fields after high school.  “Artizens is a great example of a public/private partnership where Piedmont Federal can have a positive impact across many schools and with even more students,” explained Ginger Salt, Piedmont Federal, Senior Vice President – CMO.  “I am excited to see this level of creativity on display and how appropriate for Artizens to be in the City of Arts and Innovation.”