The annual Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) took place virtually again this year for students all over the state of Texas, with judging taking place in Amarillo on Saturday, Feb. 26. Fifteen CHS students submitted their art for consideration. In all, 11 students received the highest mark for points, and qualified for medals. Of those, three students qualified for the state VASE competition.

CHS senior Maddie Brewster, and juniors Mallory Poe and Ella Walser, each advanced to state, and will travel to San Marcos High School on April 29-30, for the state VASE competition judging and show. Brewster, who also qualified for state last year, submitted her mixed-media painting, titled “Colorful Self." She said she was surprised but happy to have made it to the state level again. Her favorite part of creating this year’s art entry was painting her portrait in a new abstract color style.

Poe created her organic mosaic with rice, beans, split peas, lentils, and corn. She was inspired by a tile she remembered from her family home—thus the title “Heart O’ Mine.” She was proud of her design and the intricate detail of the small grains of rice and peas. Walser created a recycled dress, titled “Page Turner,” derived from her two passions—fashion and reading. She feels her project really represents her and is proud that all the hard work she put in resulted in such a striking and original piece. Her sisters, both CHS graduates, qualified for the state VASE competition in the past, so it’s been a goal of hers to do the same.

All the students who participated and entered art for VASE worked very hard to express their own personal visions and ideas, said Art Teacher Karol Ann Michelsen, who added, “Regardless of the final scoring, every single artist should be proud of their effort and bravery for submitting pieces for the judges. After all, even Einstein professed that ‘creativity is intelligence having fun.’”