Seventh grader Nina Falkson has been recognized for her exceptional art ability by the prestigious national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program.
After winning a Gold Key award in this year’s regional competition sponsored by the Boston Globe, Nina moved on to the national competition sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in New York, where she received a Silver Medal in sculpture for her Shaker box.
Nina made her Shaker box in a woodworking class at DCD taught by Gerry Clifford. “Nina’s woodworking experience and skills have been carefully honed and developed over the years in the DCD woodshop,” he said. “Her Shaker-style oval box reflects the work of someone who not only possesses an established skill base, but also has the sensitivity to hand craft something so beautiful.”
Nina was among 4,000 honorees from around Massachusetts in this year’s regional Globe competition, which is now in its 67th year. Out of 15,000 pieces submitted in the visual arts, 600 were awarded Gold Keys. A record-breaking 330,000 works of art and writing were submitted to regional contests across the country, with just about 2,600 ultimately receiving recognition at the national level.
Divided into 29 categories, the submissions were judged by professionals in both fields for the chance to receive Gold Key, Silver Key, or honorable mention awards. Gold Key winners like Nina moved on to the national competition.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12. The awards have helped foster the creativity and talent of millions of students across the United States.
Nina now joins the ranks of such noted artists as Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Philip Pearlstein, and Sylvia Plath, and more recently, Stephen King, Richard Linklater, Zac Posen, and Lena Dunham, who also received Scholastic Art & Writing Awards as teens.
