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First Lady Announces Student Art Scholars for Johnson City

University School Student Ethan Scheu Wins Scholarship for “Rocky Mount”

3/24/2006

“First Lady Andrea Conte and The Tennessee Arts Commission today announced student winners from Upper East Tennessee in a traveling art exhibit that benefits the Restoration and Preservation of The Tennessee Residence “Far Hills – Images of the Tennessee Residence.”

Conte launched the traveling art exhibit featuring the drawings and paintings of renowned landscape artist Charles Brindley in Knoxville last fall. As part of the exhibit, Conte and The Tennessee Arts Commission offered high school students the opportunity to show their artwork through The Tennessee Residence Brindley Scholar Art Contest, which gives each high school in the state the option of submitting one student’s artwork for local exhibition during the tour and the chance to win scholarships provided by The Tennessee Arts Commission.

Ten high schools in counties surrounding Johnson City submitted artwork on behalf of students for the Carroll Reece Museum exhibit, including: West Greene High School, South Greene High School, North Greene High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Cherokee High School, Daniel Boone High School, Volunteer High School, Tri-Cities Christian School, Sullivan South High School and University School. The students were asked to provide a drawing in pen and ink, charcoal, pastel or pencil that focused on subjects significant to Tennessee’s history.

The student who received the most votes for his artwork during the two-week exhibit at the Carroll Reece Museum is Ethan Scheu of University School in Johnson City for his drawing, “Rocky Mount.” Scheu, who is a student in Ms. Sharon Squibb’s art class, will receive a $300 scholarship.

Scheu, whose mother is an artist, said his drawing depicts a scene from Rocky Mount, which is located near his hometown of Piney Flats, outside Johnson City.

“This is the first time I’ve entered a contest like this, and it was really exciting to win the first time around,” said Scheu.

The two runners-up, who will receive $100.00 scholarships each, include Nathan Wampler of Daniel Boone High School for “My Gray: From Fossils to Fords” and Kaley Donahue of South Greene High School for an untitled piece.

“Rocky Mount” will now join the “Far Hills” exhibit and will travel with Charles Brindley’s artwork throughout the state. All winning works from the tour will ultimately be shown at the final exhibition in Nashville, where a grand winner will be chosen and awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Tennessee Arts Commission.

“I am really impressed by the creative abilities of the students who participated in The Tennessee Residence Brindley Scholar Art Contest in Johnson City,” said Conte. “I congratulate our three winners, and thank Ethan Scheu for providing such a beautiful piece of artwork to join the ‘Far Hills’ tour. I also thank each of the students who participated in the Johnson City exhibit for sharing their talent and creativity with us during the art contest.”

“Far Hills – Images of the Tennessee Residence” will continue its statewide tour with upcoming stops scheduled in:

  • Memphis, April 6, 2006
  • Smithville, April 19, 2006
  • Nashville, May 2, 2006
  • Cleveland, June 13, 2006

The Restoration and Preservation of the Tennessee Residence was initiated in 2003 by Gov. Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte in an effort to preserve the history and integrity of the home.

If you would like to make a donation to the restoration, or for more information about the exhibit, please call the Office of the First Lady at (615) 741.7846. For information about the Tennessee Arts Commission, visit http://www.arts.state.tn.us/ or call (615) - 741.1701.