MIAMI STUDENT
WINS
NATIONAL
LATINO ART BEAT COMPETITION
$168,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
MIAMI, FL
– Latino
Art Beat, a national not for profit arts organization, received over
1,000 entries in its 14th consecutive art competition,
themed “What Hispanic Heritage & Culture Means to Me?”
Students, in 11th and 12th
grade, attending high schools Statewide in Illinois and in the
cities of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and
Washington, D.C., were eligible to participate in the 2011 national
art competition. The Mayor’s Office, the local Department of
Education along with dedicated logistical partners, present this
milestone competition annually. Each region selects a 1st,
2nd and 3rd Place winner along with several
Honorable Mentions. Of all the 1st Place regional winners
a national winner is chosen.
This year
Audrey Michelle Gair, a June 2011
graduate of the New World
School of the Arts high school, Miami was selected as the 2011
National Latino Art Beat competition winner. Gairs’ artwork
titled “Mi Cultura”, is an acrylic on canvas self portrait in
the style of Mexican artist, Freda Kahlo de Rivera (July 6, 1907 –
July 13, 1954). Gair states that she got her “inspiration for the
Latino Art Beat competition from her Latino culture (Costa Rican,
Puerto Rican and European) as well as from other Latin artists, one
in particular Freda Kahlo”. Audrey was awarded a combined
scholarship, through the Maryland Institute College of Art (“MICA”)
/ Latino Art Beat scholarship partnership, of $168,000 the
highest award ever given a high school artist through this
milestone initiative. Audrey is currently a freshman at MICA in
Baltimore, MD, her college of choice.
“As Latino
Art Beat approaches its 15th anniversary competition it
is pleased at the continuing enthusiastic participation in and the
success of its regional and national competitions and initiatives.
The dedication of students and teachers alike, across this great
nation of ours, in entering this milestone competition is
first-class. Latino Art Beat is grateful for the tremendous support
which all its City, Department of Education and academic partners
have given this initiative over the years. In particular, the great
scholarship support afforded competition winners through its
partnerships with Columbia College Chicago, Robert Morris University
and the Maryland Institute College of Art (‘MICA’ Baltimore)”,
states Don Rossi Nuccio, President of Latino Art Beat.
The 2011
National Latino Art Beat awards ceremony was hosted during 2011
Hispanic Heritage Month in Miami to honor Audrey Gair in her
hometown. Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of Latino Art
Beat, made it possible to fly in all the 1st Place
winners from participating cities to Miami, to represent their city
and the respective Latino Art Beat competition. The Doubletree Grand
Hotel in Miami was one of the event sponsors. Miami Mayor Tomas
Regalado and the Miami city commissioners honored and feted the
national winner; the other Miami competition winners and all the
Latino Art Beat 1st Place regional winners in city hall!
Giselle Suarez represented Illinois; Enrique Rodriguez
represented Houston; Bella Maria Varela represented the
District of Columbia and a proxy for Hye Na Shin represented
Los Angeles. A further recognition of Audrey, the other Miami
winners and all the regional 1st Place Latino Art Beat
art competition winners was hosted the following day at New World
School of the Arts. A gallery display of the winning artwork and a
presentation made in front of a packed student audience honored all
the student winners.
A 2012
national commemorative art poster/calendar displaying the artwork of
these 1st Place competition winners, highlighting
Audrey’s winning piece, will be featured and unveiled at the U.S.
Conference of Mayors winter meeting in January, 2012 in Washington,
D.C.
About
Latino Art Beat
Latino Art Beat, a Chicago-based not-for-profit arts organization,
awards scholarships to high school students from participating
cities through its Hispanic themed art competition. Since 1998
Latino Art Beat has awarded over $3 million in college scholarships
to competition winners. Select winning artwork is displayed at
various art exhibits and featured in the national print media. Visit
the website at
www.latinoartbeat.com.
Students
interested in participating in the 2012
art competition may contact their high school art teacher or go to
www.latinoartbeat.com.
For the 2012 contest rules booklet, e-mail (after December, 2011) a
request to
latinoartbeat@hotmail.com.