The Johnson Center for the Arts sponsored a Wild, Wild West Student Art Competition this fall and invited all schools in Pike County to participate. Students in grades K-12 had the opportunity to explore the Wild, Wild West and then tell their story of the West through art.

“This is the third year the Johnson Center has sponsored an art exhibit and competition and invited students in all grades to participate,” said Vicki Pritchett, JCA executive director. “More schools are embracing this arts opportunity for their students.”

Pritchett said each fall student art competition is based on a theme.

“The Wild, Wild West is a vivid and fascinating place to ‘visit,’” Pritchett said. “The students’ artwork is evidence that they learned a lot about the Wild West and enjoyed the art project. Their artwork is creative and just absolutely wonderful.”

All of the artwork entered by teachers around the county is hanging in the upper gallery of the Johnson Center.

“Their work is hanging beside the artwork of professional Western artist Lisa Stokes who came to Pike Road from Texas,” Pritchett said. “Not many students have the honor of having their artwork exhibited with that of a highly acclaimed artist.”

The winners in the 2016 Wild, Wild West Student Art Competition were recognized at program in their honor Thursday at the JCA.

In the kindergarten through third grade division, Christian Cobb, second grade, Covenant Christian School took Best of Show honors. Other winners were Lola Drinkwater, first place, third grade, Covenant Christian; Dunn Lindsey, second place, third grade, Troy Elementary; and Lynleigh Romero, second place (tie), fifth grade, Covenant Christian; and Averie Register, first grade, Covenant Christian, third place. Teachers are Kristy Drinkwater, Covenant Christian, and Jennifer Lindsey, Troy Elementary.

Winners in the grades four through six division of the Wild West Student Art Competition are Hannah Sparrow, Best of Show, sixth grade, TES; Blake Carlisle, first place, sixth grade, TES; Josie Suber, second place, fourth grade, Pike Liberal Arts School; and Mallory Grace Sanders, third place, fourth grade, CC. Teachers are Jennifer Lindsey, TES; Carol Goff, PLAS; and Kristy Drinkwater, CC.

In grades seven through nine, the winners are Best of Show, Emma Earles, eighth grade, Charles Henderson Middle School; Kiley Edenfield, first place, eighth grade CHMS; Caden Bryan, second place; ninth grade, CHHS; and Jadakis McKinney, third place, eighth grade, CHMS. Teachers are Jennifer Sullivant and Charlotte Walden.

Kaytlin Morgan, 11th grade, CHHS, was awarded Best of Show honors in the 10th through 12th grade division. Other winners are Jessie Shipman, first place, 12th grade, Charles Henderson High School; Jana Oakes, second place, 11th grade PLAS; and Tabitha Parks, third, 10th grade, CHHS. Teachers are Charlotte Walden, CHHS; and Rachel Kurtz, PLAS.

Dianna Lee represented Troy Bank & Trust, corporate sponsor of the Wild, Wild, West Student Art Competition. She expressed appreciation for the relationship TB&T shares with the Johnson Center.  “The Johnson Center is very important to our community and we are proud to sponsor the fall kids’ art competition,” she said. “We wanted to do something for the kids and we are amazed at the level of talent exhibited here.”

Lisa Stokes was introduced to the art award-winning students. She expressed her appreciation for being invited to show her work at the Johnson Center and encouraged the students to continue their interest in art and to participate in opportunities that come their way.

The students enjoyed a video of America’s Story through contemporary Western art as is viewed at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia.

The JCA is featuring an exhibit of Western art in its lower gallery that is on loan from the Booth Western Art Museum.

B.B. Palmer, president of the Pike County Cattleman’s Association, was the featured program speaker.

Palmer told the student art winners that cattle farmers in Pike County are carrying on many of the traditions of the old West.

“And our Cattleman’s association has about 400 members, making it one of the largest in the state,” Palmer said. “Our Cattlemen sponsor a Professional Cowboy Association rodeo ever year and the events are much the same as the riding and roping skills of the cowboys of the Old West.”

When riding down the highways, the cattle farms in Pike County have the flavor of the West, Palmer said.

“But what we know about cattle is mainly that we get meat from them, steaks and hamburger meat,” Palmer said. “

But cows are about more than meat. About 98 percent of the cow is used and in many ways. It’s used in Jell-O and pet foods. Parts of the cow are used in medicines, in break fluid, as baseball covers and gloves and in fertilizers and paint brushes. There’s much more to a cow than meat.”

The Rev. Alvie Walker closed the program with prayed and expressed gratitude that there are places where people can pray openly and in public.

The students, their teachers and their guests enjoyed a pizza lunch at The Studio, hosted by the Johnson Center.