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Hogg Middle School has hosted an art competition for the past 11 years. This year marks the fifth printed publication.
In this competition, students can submit either an art, a writing, or a design composition. Winners are announced the evening of Literacy Night. If they win, they can get a gift card for "Barnes & Noble” or “Jerry’s Arterama" ranging from $15 - $50.
Ms. Chance, one of Hogg’s librarians and head of the UIL Academic team, has been the organizer and a main composer of “The Flying Pig”. The literary art journal has all of the winning competition submissions made by students along with their placement, the category, and the grade they competed in. This year's theme was Allegories and Symbolism. Students created works about what an object or person or event means to them and what it represents.
Kids behind the piece
Two parts of her
Josefina Mendez is a seventh grader at Hogg who won 1st place for the seventh-grade art category. She decided to submit for “The Flying Pig” because it let her express two different, yet very defining parts of herself; art and dance. In her submission, she drew a split panel (left) of jorts with converse and (right) a lyrical dress with point shoes.
Josefina has been dancing since she was six years old. Dancing has always been a hobby where she can decompress and make good connections. Whenever she is in a tense space where she doesn't know what to do, breaking into dance and internally playing a song that’s been stuck in her head lets her calm down and gain control of her emotions again.
The other side stems from her family’s artistry. Her grandfather is a retired yet seasoned art teacher. She told him and a lot of her friends and family about the competition. Her grandfather supported her throughout the process as she changed her drawing outline numerous times before sticking to one and going through with it.
Josefina did not believe that she would win 1st place at the competition, but her friends and family still came to support her at the ceremony. She was very surprised when her name was called for 1st place because she believed that there were a lot of other submissions that were much prettier. Her friends and family cheered her on as she accepted her blue ribbon and $50 gift card.
Other Hogg students also appreciated their peer’s artwork.
“It [Literacy Night] was fun and interesting. My first time going, too. I liked the one with Converse shoe and the ballerina shoe, very artistic. I liked the Converse cause I like the shoe brand,” said eighth grader Saul Rodriguez.
Beginning of a legacy
Alessandra Castillo is a sixth grader at Hogg and won 1st place for the sixth-grade art category. She was inspired by her sister to submit to “The Flying Pig" because her sister does a lot of art and they share a passion that grows with them.
For her submission, she painted a brown-striped bunny adorned with a baby-pink bow while seated in a field of deep, forest-green grass and blooming butter-yellow flowers on a clear blue day.
Alessandra’s grandmother’s pet sparked the design concept of her art. Her grandma has a bunny in her front yard, and she loves seeing all the little kids hang around to pet the bunny. Alessandra says a lot of girls and boys make their parents go on walks with them just to see the bunny. The dogs love it as well!
Winning first the final time
Italy Reavess is an eighth grader and won 1st place in the eighth-grade art category. Reaves was inspired to compete because of her desire to practice her newly gained knowledge while also showcasing her skills. She likes the old 90’s anime style that some of her favorite shows depict. The style heavily influenced her work, along with important objects like her Switch and art supplies.
Italy illustrated herself in bright, colorful, and comfortable clothing standing upon clouds against a cotton candy sky while rays of love and stars swirl around her with bubbles, Nintendo and art symbols.
She was much too excited to tell many people, though she did tell her friends and dads about her submission. One of her dads is an artist, so he supported her by supplying the required materials, giving tips and lessons on how to improve and also critiquing while training her.
Her other father supported her with kindness and overflowing love for what she was doing, something she struggled with. In the beginning, she heavily disliked and struggled to enjoy her work, but as she continued on her journey she grew to love it, and now, when looking at it, she sees all her potential and skill.
She expected to get 2nd or 3rd for the art concept and technique used in the background, so she was shocked when she placed 1st. She experienced a rush of memorable excitement, so impactful that she has rediscovered her motivation for art in general. It is like a light in a dark tunnel for her.
“Interprate my art however you want, there is no wrong way to look at something. Art doesn’t have one set meaning or feeling,” she said.
Giving students a platform to display talent
The art, design, and writing competition gives $50 for 1st, $35 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd, and $15 for honorable mentions. The total amount of money given out was $500 in 1st place awards, $315 in 2nd place awards, $225 for 3rd place awards and $315 for Honorable mentions, $1,355 overall!
Boards with the submissions were put in the hallways for students to admire. Ms. Chance parent volunteers and library aids assembled the literary art journal and Fgave them out to any one who asked for one.
While this year's theme was Allegories and Symbolism, next year is rather different as it is Animals and Art!
“The Flying Pig” helps express the school’s diverse takes on art, design, and writing that each student can choose to show in the composition anonymously or with credit. Either way, they still get the prize (if you are wondering)!
Hogg loves to promote the arts and student discovery.
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