ArtFest Fort Myers lauds Art Under 20 competitors

ArtFest Fort Myers presented $6,000 in awards to Lee County high school students at the Art Under 20 Award Reception on Feb. 18. The artists won the top awards in Art Under 20, the high school fine art competition, which took place at ArtFest Fort Myers on Feb. 7 and 8.

A record 277 local high school students, from 14 Lee County high schools, entered 496 pieces of artwork in Art Under 20. All artwork that was entered in this competition was exhibited at the fine art festival and was previewed by thousands of festival patrons. Art Under 20 judges Barbara Fewster, Chuck Koucky and Peggy Starks had the difficult task of selecting the winners from among these talented students.

Awards were given in the categories of Drawing, Photography, Painting, 3-Dimensional and Mixed Media. The cash award levels were $900 for Best of Show, $400 for first place, $200 for second place, $100 for third place and $50 for honorable mention. Festival attendees voted for the People's Choice resulting in a $300 cash award.

ArtFest Fort Myers also offered three Ringling College of Art and Design Scholarships to attend a Summer Teen Studio in 2009. These scholarships are designed to cover the tuition costs of the Ringling Summer Teen Studio Program, giving the recipients an opportunity to receive some advanced art training.

BEST OF SHOW: Adam Frank, Mariner High

PHOTOGRAPHY: 1st: Daniel Izquierdo, North Fort Myers High 2nd: Alex Pattner, Fort Myers High 3rd: Rebekah Horner, Cape Coral High

PAINTING: 1st: Illana Marshall, Cape Coral High 2nd: Inga Charlamova, Cypress Lake High 3rd: Blake Montgomery, Fort Myers High

DRAWING: 1st: Kelsey Hasten, Mariner High 2nd: Brandon Stowe, North Fort Myers High 3rd: Alisa Scribner, Mariner High

3-DIMENSIONAL: 1st: Ariel Krivisky, Canterbury 2nd: Kat Wilson, Cypress Lake High 3rd: Ben Dion, Estero High

MIXED MEDIA: 1st: Laura Marin, Fort Myers High 2nd: Kyle Converse, Cypress Lake High 3rd: Amber Reynolds, Lehigh High

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Adam Frank, Mariner High