Madrid Middle School is celebrating the achievements of
its student artists. The artwork of 13 students was published in the Fall 2018 Celebrating Art book, a publication
sponsored by Celebrating Art and Blick Art Materials that brings together the
best student artists in North America.
Additionally, 34 students were awarded ribbons in the Los Angeles County
Fair America’s Kids Art Expo including 14 First Place ribbons and 20 Second
Place ribbons.
The award
winning artists are current and former students in Madrid teacher, Sue
Parszik’s art class. The winning artwork that caught the judges’ eyes included
still life drawings and self-portraits created with pencil and charcoal, pen
and ink drawings, watercolor art, and clay projects. The students appreciate
the opportunity to take art class and express their creativity, sharpen their critical
thinking skills, communicate their feelings and build confidence through art,
and are very excited to have their work honored. Parszik, an exceptional art teacher, and her
students have enjoyed a long history of success over the years in a variety of
art competitions.
Parszik is extremely proud of Bianca Villeda, a former student who
promoted from Madrid this past June, who was accepted into the prestigious
Ryman Program, a two year program sponsored the Disney Foundation for young
artists.
“Students accepted into this elite art program are usually in high
school but this is the fourth time a student has been accepted directly
from our eighth grade art program at Madrid,” said Parszik. “We are extremely proud of Bianca.”
Villeda’s application process for the Ryman Program involved submitting
an essay, a teacher recommendation and a representational drawing by the young
artist.
Currently a freshman at Mt. View High School, Villeda started in the Ryman
program this fall at the Otis College of Design. She will continue in the spring and next
year, equaling two years of free art instruction and all necessary art
materials.
“Bianca is one of the most talented students we’ve had at Madrid in
recent years and I am so excited for her. She really belongs in a program like
this,” said Parszik.
During her time at Madrid Villeda had artwork honored at the L.A. County
fair, receiving first place ribbons in September 2018 and her artwork has been published
in Celebrating Art as both a seventh
grader and an eighth grader.