King Receives Additional Honors for Her Creativity

 

July 28, 2021

This Jessica King original, which was awarded second place at the Harlem High School's Spring Art Exhibition, reveals her talent. The piece reflects three different types of art: 1) Representational, which is artwork that is realistic. It seeks to portray things as they appear (middle section). 2) Abstract, which alters reality in some way but still has recognizable elements from reality (left section), and 3) Non-Objective which is where the artist uses the elements of art (i.e. shape, line color) to create art that showcases those things without having to portray anything from reality. The shapes, lines, colors, etcetera are the art (right section).

on the Students' Choice Award at Harlem High School's Spring Art Exhibition, will be honored yet again. She will be a featured artist at the Artitudes Gallery in the Havre Atrium on Wednesday, August 11 from 6:00-8:00 in the evening.

Under the guidance of her English teacher, Mr. Matthew Hodgson, King has curated a small art show. Selecting from among her best pieces, she chose those that would match her theme. Thematically speaking, she will be focusing on flowers and gardening as a metaphor for self-realization and personal growth.

In addition to this art display, King drafted a companion booklet of poems with some illustrations to complement the writing. She first began working on the booklet, titled "Bloom," in November of 2020. King approached Hodgson about working on poetry after the class unit ended, and he suggested that she collect her poems into a booklet for potential publishing.

"Since then, we have worked on it at random, adding one poem at a time. Now that we put them all into a document and edited them with the help of other students, including Tamira Cliff and Mylah Rider, the collection is being sent off in the next two days," Hodgson stated on July 5.

The publisher is a small press that Hodgson manages under Barnes & Noble Press. "Its tentative organization name is P. B. E. Press, for Pretty-Blue-Eyes Press," said Hodgson.

King, who will be a junior at Harlem High School next year, is seventeen years old and has been drawing, painting, and sketching since she was five. Her preferred mediums are pencil and acrylic paint, but she plans to try working more with oils.

This artistically talented young woman credits several people for giving her guidance and confidence: "The people that have provided me with guidance are my English teacher, Matthew J. Hodgson; my art teacher, Mary Kate French; my mother, Savana Doney; and my guardians, Lyle and Kim Faulkinberry. Mr. Hodgson taught us how to write, read, and create all different kinds of poetry. This helped me, with practice, on discovering my way of writing poetry. He taught me that in any moment of time, a poem can be written.

"Ms. French helped me by correcting me on my artwork and having a belief in me that I am an artist. Every one of my pieces, to her, was a masterpiece. She allowed me to use any medium in her class, which ranged from pencil work and charcoal to acrylic painting and pottery," King explained.

In King's creative mind, visual art and poetry connect because they represent a way of life for her. Regardless of her mood, creating poetry or visual art provides a method for soothing her mind and emotions. "The meaning of a poem can also relate to the meaning of an art piece. For example, a joyful poem can be seen as the sun in art form," King said.

The staff at Artitudes, managed by Kris Shaw and owned in collaboration with Mary Nault and several others, expressed an interest in hosting a reception/booklet signing event in conjunction with the Atrium bookstore. In addition to this reception being the first one since the onset of the pandemic, it will also support the work of a young, Native American artist.

Artitudes Gallery began in Havre in September 2004 to provide a supportive and friendly place for area artists to display and sell their work. A cooperative gallery of North Central Montana artists, the gallery is currently housed in the Atrium Mall at 220 3rd Avenue, #402 in Havre. It features a wide variety of artistic styles and artists using many different mediums. "We have something to suit every taste and budget, from cards and small gift items to large paintings," Shaw stated.

Locals and friends who live in Fort Belknap and the surrounding communities are invited to the gallery's reception for King. Of the pieces on display, a few will be for sale. King may also take commissions if asked.

About King's invitation, Hodgson responded: "It is my great honor to advocate for the students and provide them with opportunities. And given our remote location, they matter all the more."

 
 

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