This spring marks the third annual Visual Arts Senior Student Choice Award, where one senior is recognized for their impressive work and artistic excellence with a $200 prize and a permanent spot in GA’s Portfolio of Artistic Excellence. This year’s winner is Charlotte Harobin ‘22 with her “Alice in Wonderland” inspired mushroom chess set.
Harobin’s work is a chessboard that displays two opposing teams of sculptures: one composed of natural mushrooms and the other of “Alice in Wonderland, psychedelic” mushrooms. “I thought it would be cool if the work had a nature and forest theme,” said Harobin.
Within the piece, Harobin used “bright, bold, and sparkly” colors to illuminate her miniature sculptures. The artwork is further enhanced through the addition of moss and other textures, amplifying its character.
Harobin shared that, though the winning piece does not have a meaning, it holds personal significance through the creative outlet it provided. Her vision began with an urge to craft something with an earthy feeling. After discovering this, she stuck with it and let her creativity flow.
Harobin’s artistic journey began when she entered Germantown Academy’s Upper School, where 3D Art classes helped her to discover a profound appreciation for the subject. “I began to get really excited about making projects and trying really hard to make things that I am really happy with,” said Harobin. She explains how these art classes were always a sanctuary for her creativity to flourish; they expanded her technical skills and guided a love for art.
While Harobin is not planning to primarily study art in the future, she hopes to continue taking classes to develop her skill set. She also wishes to incorporate the artistic and creative ideas learned from her time in the Upper School into further education.
Ms. Ritz, an Upper School art teacher, was a defining person in Harobin’s art journey. “Ms. Ritz has always let me run with whatever ideas I have,” said Harobin.
The Student Choice Award is not the only art honor offered during the spring, the other being the Purchase Prize, the original and more traditional award that only allowed faculty voting.
The Student Choice Award is a new award created three years ago by Mr. David Love, the Head of the Arts Department. Both Ms. Ritz and Mr. Love thought it would be a great idea to add this prize to really see what the students thought. “The Purchase Prize is awesome and people seem to love it, but we didn’t know what the students think,” said Ms. Ritz.
Art teachers feel that by making the prize student-run, they are receiving more honest and intuitive responses. “They’re [teachers] going to look at it in terms of skills and craftsmanship and I would think that students have a more gut response to the work,” said Ms. Ritz.
Both of the awards have a grand prize of $200 and the winning pieces will be featured in GA’s Portfolio of Artistic Excellence. This has aided the school in accumulating its exceptional collection full of past winners. Ms. Ritz has shared that some of these former students have gone on to become professional artists. She points out how the pieces of artwork chosen now could become the early works of future “Van Goghs.”
Harobin’s eye-catching work adds another fascinating piece to Germantown Academy’s portfolio and will continue to be enjoyed by members of the community for years to come.