Athens, Ga. – The State Botanical Garden of Georgia recently announced the winners of its 2010 art competition, which was sponsored by the J.A. and H.G. Woodruff, Jr. Charitable Trust to recognize student talent and create signature items for the garden’s gift shop. Eighty-seven entries were received from Georgia students in ninth grade and above.
First place winner Elizabeth Nixon is a UGA senior studying ecology and scientific illustration. “I’ve spent many hours wandering through the botanical garden, and though I have seen a vast collection of plants and animals from around the world, I am most fascinated by the native flora and fauna of Georgia,” said Nixon. “I hoped to show that in my art by researching the types of plants, animals and fungi found in the area and using that in my paintings. Georgia has the highest number and greatest diversity of amphibian species of all the United States, and is a contender for the state with the most species of turtles. I wanted to show that though birds and mammals are charismatic and very noble creatures, it is our overlooked herpetofauna that are what make Georgia truly a gem of biodiversity.”
Nixon’s painting “Come Out of Your Shell,” includes eastern box turtle, spotted touch-me-not, endemic psylocybe mushroom, black raspberry, ox-eye daisy, globular drop snail, and seven-spotted ladybeetle. Nixon also won a certificate of merit for another entry.
Second place and both third place prizes were awarded to high school students.
Susan Cooper, gift shop manager, will determine how to use this art to create signature items, such as T-shirts, totes, scarves, stationery and more to sell in the garden gift shop. “We have many handmade pieces created by local artists and by volunteers who gather together to craft items to sell in our gift shop. The objects created from the winning art will complement our selection of unique, garden-themed items.”
The winners are:
First Place ($1,000)
“Come Out of your Shell at the Botanical Garden,” by Elizabeth Nixon,
University of Georgia, Athens
watercolor
Second Place ($500)
“Inversion,” by Katie Siegel, Lawrenceville
Collins Hill High School, Suwanee
watercolor and ink
Third Place ($250 each, two-way tie)
Unnamed, by Kristen Penelope Pack, Cumming
Wesleyan School, Norcross
acrylic
“Together,” by Julie Rodriguez, Alpharetta
Wesleyan School, Norcross
digital photography
Certificates of Merit ($100 offer for artwork)
“Owl Tree,” by Elise Longnecker, Lawrenceville
Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville
ballpoint pen
“Bufo americanus,” by Elizabeth Nixon, Athens
University of Georgia, Athens
watercolor
Honorable Mentions
“Pod,” by Julia Timms, Savannah
Gainesville State College, Watkinsville
charcoal
“Grasshopper,” by Evan Anderson, Milton
Wesleyan School, Norcross
photography
“Leaf,” by Jake Cusick, Duluth
Wesleyan School,Norcross
photography
“Breeze,” by Robyn Johnson, Acworth
University of Georgia, Athens
photography
“Yellow,” by Adriana Galvez, Roswell
Wesleyan School, Norcross
acrylic
“Forgotten Hope,” by Corey Masccida, Atlanta
Cross Keys High School, Northeast DeKalb County
handmade paper
“Daisy,” by Emily Howell, Alpharetta
Wesleyan School, Norcross
photography