"Thank You for the Tip!" by Anastasia K.; Awards: Gold Medal, The Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon

The recipients of the 2024 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were announced on Thursday, June 13, with several Maryland students named as honorees — 83 to be exact — and we could not be more proud.

BOPA is the Maryland affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, which means we manage the competition at the regional level. We encourage students across the state to submit their work, assist students and educators in navigating the application process, and provide opportunities for students to participate in workshops, critique sessions, and panel discussions. BOPA also coordinates the adjudication of the regional submissions. This year, we received 4,430 submissions from 3,350 students — which is more than double the number of students who submitted in 2023.

Any student who is awarded a Gold Medal at the regional level automatically moves on to the national stage of the competition. National honorees can also receive scholarships and other awards.

Like recent Baltimore School for the Arts graduate Adiyah Parham. She received the Gold Medal Portfolio Award and a $12,500 cash prize for her writing portfolio, "How We Cope," which explores aspects of grief. Students from two other Baltimore City Public Schools also placed at the national level — Baltimore Design School and Hampstead Hill Academy — as well as one Baltimore City private school, The GreenMount School.

"Tough Cookie" by "Daniel M.; Awards: Gold Medal, American Visions; Category: Ceramics & Glass

Maryland students were notably represented among the National American Voices & Visions Medal recipients. From the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: "The American Visions Award for art and the American Voices Award for writing are prestigious honors that represent each region of the Scholastic Awards. The Awards’ core values of originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision are key factors in the selection process."

Out of the regional American Voices and Visions nominees, the national jurors select the students who will receive a National American Visions or National American Voices Medal. This year, three of our regional American Voices & Visions nominees were awarded national medals.

Daniel M. received both a Gold Medal and a National American Visions Medal for his sculpture "Tough Cookie" in the Ceramics & Glass category. For her Critical Essay, "On the Importance of Emptied Spaces," Sarah G. was awarded a Gold Medal and an National American Voices Medal. Chelsea Z.'s "Song of Survival" in the Poetry category also won a Gold Medal and an National American Voices Medal.

Another one of the scholarships awarded at the national level is the New York Life Award, underwritten by the New York Life Foundation, a $2,500 prize awarded to 10 students whose work explores the themes of death and personal grief. Two of this year's 10 New York Life Award recipients are Maryland students. Please join us in congratulating them!

Student: Rahul G.

Title: "Pieces of Parkinson's"

Category: Painting

Awards: Silver Medal, New York Life Award

Student: Casey J.

Title: "Vulnerability"

Category: Ceramics & Glass

Awards: Silver Medal, New York Life Award

Finally, the Herblock Award for Editorial Cartoon, underwritten by the Herb Block Foundation, is a $2,000 scholarship awarded to three students whose work offers commentary or criticism on current events, social events, or political topics. This year, one of the three recipients of this prestigious award is a student from Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland.

Scroll back to the top of the newsletter to see Anastasia K.'s Editorial Cartoon, "Thank You for the Tip!" — which also received a Gold Medal.

To see all 83 national award-winning Maryland students, click the button below. You can use the search bar to filter by student, state, or school and reorder the results with the arrows at the top of each column.

Elena Volkova is a recipient of the 2022 Municipal Art Society of Baltimore (MASB) Artist Travel Prize. Her work is currently on view at School 33 Art Center as part of TRANSMISSION, group exhibition featuring 11 past winners of the MASB Artist Travel Prize. Earlier this month, Volkova created a series of black & white tintype portraits of Baltimore's queer community in honor of Pride. See them published in BmoreArt at the button below.

Katie Pumphrey's name has been all over the news this week, but not for her creative work, though she is an accomplished artist. Pumphrey is one of the semifinalists for the 2024 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize. Her work will be on view during Artscape 40, August 2–4, in the Sondheim Semifinalists Exhibition. Now, she is also the first and only person to swim the 24 miles from the Bay Bridge to the Inner Harbor. See her amazing finish below.

Right now the historic galleries of the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower are sparkling with light and laughter as friends old and new come together to celebrate the opening of three solo shows by emerging Baltimore-based artists. Come to Bromo to experience "The Tower" by Alexander D’Agostino, "Fo Er’body Blk" by kolpeace, and "Pieces of Me" by Ali Mirsky. The range of mediums used across these three exhibitions is immense — from solar-reactive dyes to found objects to fire, these artists are pushing boundaries and creating new connections through their work. Bromo's galleries are open to the public on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and by appointment from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Click below for directions.

Now through July 21, School 33 Art Center is hosting a group exhibition of Baltimore-based artists that includes the 11 winners of the Municipal Art Society of Baltimore (MASB) Artist Travel Prize from 2017-2023. The featured artists are: Elena Volkova, Erick Antonio Benitez, Erin Fostel, Hoesy Corona, Jackie Milad, Jill Orlov, J.M. Giordano, LaToya M. Hobbs, Nate Larson, Rosa Leff, & Schroeder Cherry. The galleries are open to the public on Thursdays and Saturdays from 12:00–4:00 p.m., however, the galleries are closed Thursday, July 4. Click below for details on all BOPA-produced exhibitions.

Even though Pride Month is ending on June 30, The Baltimore Farmers' Market continues to be a place where everyone is invited to eat, shop, and connect every Sunday, from 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. When you purchase from the vendors at The Baltimore Farmers' Market, you are directly supporting small, local businesses — including many that are queer-owned. Click below to see all the awesome farms, food vendors, & artisans you can find this season.

At the summer's last Open House on Wednesday, July 17, from 6:00–8:00 p.m., interested parties can tour The Cloisters Castle, meet with an array of wedding vendors, and even place a two-week hold on available dates. Even if you don't plan on walking down the aisle anytime soon, we invite you to come see this stunning property in person. Click below for details and directions.

AN IMMERSIVE EXHIBITION OPENS IN THE HIGHLANDTOWN DISTRICT: On Friday, June 28, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the Creative Alliance, interdisciplinary artist and performer HOPE (Tonisha Hope McCorkle) opens her solo show, "dancing with my shadows: a journey to self-discovery," which is on view through August 17, 2024. This immersive exhibition explores the evolution of HOPE, reflecting on her inner journey towards self-discovery. The opening reception is free to attend and open to all. Click the button below for details and more events related to this exhibition.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES STARTS IN THE STATION NORTH DISTRICT: On Friday, June 28, from 7:00–9:00 p.m., Station North Arts District presents its live music outdoors on the 1700 block of North Charles, featuring all-Baltimore-based artists and musicians. Enjoy the music with a bite or a cool drink on a beautiful summer evening in Baltimore’s first arts and entertainment district. Kicking off the series is Rhonda Robinson & Christie Macdonald. Click the button below for details and o see the entire summer lineup.

LEXINGTON MARKET HOSTS NEW FESTIVAL IN THE BROMO DISTRICT: Join the Market Center Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and Baltimore's famous Lexington Market on Saturday, June 29, from 12:00–8:00 p.m. at the Lexington Market Plaza and along the 200-500 blocks of Lexington Street for a day of celebration, creativity, and community at the first-ever Market Center Street Festival! There will be food, fashion, local vendors and makers, live music, entertainment, and more at this free outdoor event. Open to all ages! Click the button below to learn more.

EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH ART IN THE BLACK ARTS DISTRICT: On Saturday, June 29 from 6:00–11:00 p.m. at the Capital Lounge, the Black Arts District is sponsoring a symposium that aims to create a safe space for people to openly share their struggles through poetry, music, and personal narratives. The event is free to attend and there will be cash prizes awarded. Click below for event details and other events sponsored by BAD.