Douglas High artists recognized

More than a dozen Douglas High School students were recognized for their artwork during the 2009 regional Scholastic Art and Writing contest.

Several pieces from top winners are on display through March 20 at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno.

Senior Katie Palmer won a silver key for her hand-painted Greek amphora called "Lady Amphora."

"It took me about eight weeks," she said.

Elspeth Summersgill, a 15-year-old sophomore, also won a silver key for a photograph entitled, "Walking through the Valley."

A good friend, with an umbrella and a guitar, had posed for the shot in some trees near Carson Valley Middle School, Summersgill explained.

"I just had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, and I just did it," she said.

Another silver key went to junior Kandace Braaten for a wire sculpture of a dancer.

"I used a hanger to make a stick figure, then wrapped wire around the shape and spray painted it," she said. "I like ballet, and it was cool to do a person in a ballet pose."

Eighteen-year-old senior Nick Mortenson won a gold key for a pair of prehistoric-themed mugs which he had sculpted and covered with pictographs.

"I got the idea when my teacher called me a caveman because of the way I was pounding the clay on the table," he said.

Mortenson's art teacher, Kelley Yost, said Douglas High students took the majority of awards in the regional competition.

"We dominated," she said.

Other winners included Gina Sipin, two gold keys for printmaking; Houston Gastelum, silver key for printmaking; Kena Longabaugh, gold and silver keys for photography and a nomination for an American Visions award; Saph Brooks, gold key for photography portfolio and two silver keys for photography; Jackie Zusi-Russell, silver key for photography; Danielle Lorntzen, silver key for ceramics; Katie Ivie, silver key for ceramics; Edgar Arceo, gold key for ceramics; Brandi Graves, three silver keys for painting, drawing and printmaking; and Jacie Paulsen, silver key for photography portfolio.