About 90 student artists exhibit at 2021 JM Spring Art Show

SILER CITY, N.C. — Tiana Brooks and Chloey Johnson took top prizes at the 2021 JM Spring Art Show, a juried event held on May 26 at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Work from about 90 artists across the academic community was on display during a show usually held over a full week in downtown Siler City. But because of pandemic complications, this year’s show was moved to one night in the high school media center.

Tiana Brooks received the $100 first prize for “Say Their Names,” a mixed media work. The piece also was one of only 35 student works statewide selected to exhibit at The 2021 Emerging Artists Invitational, an annual exhibition for high school artists sponsored by the Sechrest Gallery of Art and the High Point University School of Art and Design.

Chloey Johnson received the $50 second prize for her untitled acrylic and wax series of six works.

Four other artists were recognized for honorable mention. They were Carlin Brown for “Galactic Cruise,” an acrylic painting; Anna Brooke Fuller for “Tic-Tac-No,” an acrylic painting; Linda Ocampo for “Man with Cello,” a mixed media collage; and Isabella Palacios for “Bubbles,” an acrylic painting.

Local artists Barbara Hengstenberg and Bronwyn Watson, who returned as judges this year, were impressed with the art, which included works from several classes — Art 4 Honors, Art 3 Honors, Art 2, Art 1 and Basic Life Skills.

“After this past year, we are amazed to find such introspective and expressive works of art here at JM,” said Hengstenberg. “We have high regard for all of the artists and their teacher.”

Rahkie Mateen-Mason, the art teacher at Jordan-Matthews, said this year’s show reflected a wide range of topics. This unusual semester in the pandemic focused on “choice-based” art — a direction that allowed students to develop their own projects after instruction in media and methods.

“That meant they had a lot of freedom, but also a lot of responsibility,” she said. “I’m proud so many of them followed through with their plans.”

Photos of many works from the 2021 JM Spring Art Show are available in an album on the JMArts Facebook page at facebook.com/jmhsarts.

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“Say Their Names,” a mixed media work by senior Tiana Brooks was awarded first place in the 2021 JM Spring Art Show.

This untitled acrylic and wax series by Chloey Johnson, a student in Art 2, received second place in the 2021 JM Spring Art Show.

Some art students with teacher Rahkie Mateen-Mason after the 2021 JM Spring Art Show. From left: Carlin Brown (honorable mention), Laci Burt, Chloey Johnson (second place), Mateen-Mason, Quentin Wiley, Tiana Brooks (first place) and Anna Brooke Fuller (honorable mention).

William ‘Chip’ Pate honored with JMArts Community Hero Award

SILER CITY, N.C. — William “Chip” Pate, a marketing and public relations consultant serving clients in the education and nonprofit sectors, was named the 2021 Community Hero by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation. Given this year for the second time, the annual award was created to honor a volunteer from the community who has contributed significantly to the success of the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School.

The award was presented on May 27 by JMArts President Rose Pate as part of the JMArts Awards, an online ceremony highlighting outstanding student musicians, actors and visual artists. Arts awards are usually announced as part of JM Awards Night, an annual event highlighting top students across all disciplines. But because of the pandemic, arts awards were announced by faculty members in video presentations on JMArts Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The awards ceremony is pinned to the top of JMArts Twitter at twitter.com/JMHSArts or is accessible on all platforms with the hashtag #JMAawards2021.

Pate was one of the founders of JMArts, working with his wife, the current JMArts president, to create the foundation one decade ago. Since then, the owner of Pate and Associates Marketing in Pittsboro has donated more than one-third of his billable hours every year to help nonprofit organizations, most of those hours contributed to JMArts.

He has been involved in setting the strategic direction for JMArts and has handled the nonprofit’s marketing and public relations — including its website, social media, news releases, JMArts Update newsletter, photography and media relations.

Drawing on his Ph.D. in higher education from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pate also has helped develop the foundation’s educational programs. He helped create JMArts’s “Performing in College” educational roundtable for high school students considering majoring in performing arts in college and designs the foundation’s annual New York Arts Adventure.

That signature educational trip is built from the ground up each year around the interests of traveling students. Pate books hotels and flights, plans meals, and works with associates in New York City to arrange special events like backstage tours on Broadway and extended lunches for students to learn from nationally respected theater critics, actors and producers.

While students have enjoyed the benefits of his work with JMArts, Pate says he’s been blessed as well. “I’ve said this many times before, so it’s no secret, that these student actors, musicians and visual artists are the one thing that gives me hope for the future,” he said. “They work unbelievably hard, even without some of the advantages that many schools take for granted. They’re genuinely outstanding people and, most of all, they encourage each other and take care of each other.

“It’s something you probably don’t see unless you’re backstage, at rehearsal or in the art studio, but, honestly, it’s impressive. I just wish everyone else could see what I’ve seen, so they could be encouraged and inspired, too.”

Because Pate is involved each year in preparing and promoting the arts awards, Rose had to tell her husband about the honor in advance. She prefaced that discussion by saying, “This was the committee, not me,” knowing it could be a little uncomfortable presenting an award so close to home. On the other hand, the decision made sense.

“We both got involved with supporting the arts programs at JM when our son was a student here, and we found it so fulfilling that we’ve stayed active,” Rose said. “There’s no way we could have had the impact we’ve had without Chip’s service. If you’ve ever heard of JMArts, it’s because of his work.”

All arts award winners over the last several years are listed online at jmarts.org/awards.

More information about JMArts, including its flagship JMArts Scholars program, is available at jmarts.org.

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William “Chip” Pate received the 2021 Community Hero Award from JMArts for his ongoing contribution to the arts at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo courtesy of Chip Pate)

JM honors top student artists at JMArts Awards now online

SILER CITY, N.C. — Ten Jordan-Matthews High School artists received awards on May 27 during an annual ceremony highlighting outstanding student musicians, actors and visual artists.

Awards are usually announced as part of JM Awards Night, an annual presentation highlighting top students across all disciplines. But because of the pandemic, arts awards were announced by faculty members in video presentations on JMArts Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The ceremony is pinned to the top of JMArts Twitter at twitter.com/JMHSArts or is accessible on all platforms with the hashtag #JMAawards2021.

Karsyn Vann, a freshman, received the 2021 Young Actor Award for her outstanding work in a particularly challenging role, as Old Man Warner in the spring theater workshop production of “The Lottery.”

Jennifer Diaz Garcia, a junior, received the 2021 Young Artist Award for her outstanding talent, ability to work in various media, and willingness to experiment and take risks.

Andy Ayala Jimenez, a freshman and tuba player, received the 2021 Young Instrumentalist Award for his musicianship, dedication and ability to overcome obstacles.

Cassidy DeShazo, a freshman, received the 2021 Young Vocalist Award for her outstanding voice, understanding of music theory and quality work.

Hannah Redding, a senior, received the 2021 Kaitlin James Theater Award for her exceptional work as Tessie Hutchison in the spring theater production of “The Lottery.” Though the award is presented annually to an actor or crew member for their contribution to a production’s success, this year's presentation also honored Redding for her dedication and leadership over four years of theatrical work.

Wesley Apple and Daniel Escalona Fernandez were named the 2021 Outstanding Graduates in Band, the first time two artists jointly received an outstanding graduate award. Both trumpet players were honored for their musicianship and impressive growth as musicians over four years. Apple begins undergraduate study this fall at East Carolina University with a major in music education and a minor in music performance.

Conrad Suits was named the 2021 Outstanding Graduate in Theater. The JMArts Scholar performed most recently at Jordan-Matthews as Hutchison in “The Lottery," The Baker in “Into the Woods” and Eric in “The Little Mermaid." He enrolls at Appalachian State University this fall with plans to complete the B.A. in Theatre Arts.

Tiana Brooks was named the 2021 Outstanding Graduate in Visual Art. The 2020 JMArts-Rotary Scholar’s digital work, “symbol of strength,” was commissioned this winter for the first JMArts spring greeting cards and her painting, “Say Their Names,” was one of only 35 student works statewide selected to exhibit at The 2021 Emerging Artists Invitational, an annual exhibition for high school artists sponsored by the Sechrest Gallery of Art and the High Point University School of Art and Design. She enrolls in Appalachian State University this fall to study arts management.

Rilee Rains was named the 2021 Outstanding Graduate in Vocal Music. The vocalist has not only performed with JM vocal ensembles, but appeared on stage in musical productions, performing as Rapunzel in “Into the Woods” and Adella in “The Little Mermaid." She begins undergraduate study this fall at Central Carolina Community College.

More information about JMArts, including details about JMArts Scholars and upcoming events, is available at jmarts.org.

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