Hundreds of Baltimore City young people, family members, friends, and community residents attended the 10th Annual Black History Month Student Art Competition at Creative Alliance on Saturday, Feb. 15.
The event included a showcase of 38 pieces of art submitted by students in second through eighth grades, as well as a dance exhibition. The art will remain on display until March 1.
The program is coordinated each year by the Johns Hopkins Office of Government and Community Affairs and Creative Alliance.
"Student participation was excellent," said Chrystal Green, assistant director of community affairs for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine. "The artwork was thoughtful, relevant, and sincere. The students truly put their all into the pieces."
Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle won first place, and second went to East Baltimore's William Paca Elementary, which submitted 10 pieces, including several honoring "girl power." Johnston Square Elementary earned third place for its student artwork with inspiring messages.
For the fourth year in a row, a project by Chadrick Shoales' art class at Highlandtown 215 won the People's Choice Award by receiving the most votes from attendees for a single piece of art.
All other participating schools—City Springs Elementary/Middle School, Patterson Park Public Charter School, Turnbridge Public Charter, and Wildwood Elementary/Middle—received honorable mention recognition for their art, which featured Baltimore history and African American heroes including Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thurgood Marshall.
After the art competition, attendees headed to the Creative Alliance theater for the Kuumba Showcase, which featured music and dance performances from the 1900s to present day. Performers included Baltimore DanceTech and the Tench Tilghman Dance Team.
"The performers were outstanding," Green said. "They inspired everyone."
