Most high school students feel lucky to get one Spotlight on the Arts award in their high school career. Mercedes Scheie, a senior at Warren-Alvarado-Oslo High School, received three this year at the Visual Arts State Festival, the most out of any student.
The Visual Arts State Festival is an exhibition that showcases Judge’s Choice Spotlight on the Arts award winners from the Minnesota State High School League's section festivals. Scheie had three pieces receive the award: two in sculpture and one in craft.
One sculpture featured Audrey II from the movie Little Shop of Horrors. The other sculpture was an angel, and the craft was a giant crocheted octopus.
During the school year, students decide what pieces they want to work on to submit to the competition. Scheie's art teacher Nicholas Engfer told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show that he encourages students to think about how much time they want to dedicate to their projects, including outside of the classroom.
Scheie spent a lot of hours working on her projects at home.
“It's like, how can I go above and beyond other people's things, and how could I be unique and make something that they've never seen before?” Scheie said.
She was stunned to hear about the triple win.
“I couldn't believe it. ... People were surprised that all three of them were by me, but I was very shocked.”
Engfer was extremely proud of his student’s accomplishment.
“In every job, you doubt yourself, you go home. You think about the bad days or the hard days, and these are the days that I'm like, ‘Wow, I really do a great job,'" he said. "... So I kind of give myself a pat on the back and then think about, alright, what could I have done differently to help other students have this opportunity?”
Even though Scheie did craft a lot when she was younger, making houses and stuff for her toys, she didn’t consider herself an artist. Drawing and painting just weren’t part of her interests. It wasn’t until a ceramics class became available that she began to pursue creating art.
“I love making 3D things. That's way more my interest," Scheie said.
Scheie plans to keep creating art after high school, especially crocheting. But she doesn’t want to make it her job. She’s worried it would cause her to lose interest and would rather keep it as a hobby she can have for life. Scheie expressed interest in being a judge next year at sectionals.
Both Scheie and Engfer are happy there are Spotlight on the Arts awards at the Visual Arts State Festival to recognize Minnesota student artists.
Scheie said, “(I) definitely feel really proud of myself, and it makes me want to keep making more things. I definitely encourage other people to push yourself and work hard and make something really cool, and then you can have that chance to get people to see the things that you've done.”
Engfer believes awards like these help students discover their place in school beyond sports.
“It gives them a home. It gives them some place to be seen. And I think it's really important that it's happening,” Engfer said. “Everything has art in it, and if you appreciate art, it helps you appreciate life a little bit more.”
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
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