The Shafer Gallery crew knew that everyone had been getting kind of tired of the same old video classes and lectures, so they went above and beyond this year to create an immersive world for students to experience the annual “Vortex Day” exhibit and juried art show, which is sponsored by the Barton County Arts Council (BCAC) and is underwritten by the Bill J. McKown Endowment/Golden Belt Foundation. 

Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes said it was important to the Shafer staff and the Barton Community College Art department to go the extra mile this year to create something really special for the students. 

“In order to make a way through the obstructed byways of COVID-19, we have designed a special virtual world for Barton County students to exhibit in,” he said. “On April 30, the portal opened for students (the Vortex Discovery Team) to explore a gaming style online environment where they can participate in a variety of activities and explore a realm of art all their own.”

Hoisington High School Art Instructor Christina Lamoureux said the exhibit was well received by the students. 

“It was a more than wonderful format,” she said. “I will be continuing to share and use it in my classes through the week. I think this is motivating and encouraging to our young artists and increases student appreciation of the arts.”

The highlight of Vortex Day is always the juried art show, which this year consists of an online exhibit of the work by students from Central Plains, Ellinwood, Great Bend, Larned and Hoisington High Schools. In addition, the students were able to do the following activities: 

• View their submitted work and that of their peers on the “World of Exposition.”

• View comments by Vortex judges on the “Orb of Wise Critique.”

• Participate in short online workshop presentations by Barton Aesthetic Masters Bill Forst, Philip Jacobson and Yuchen Boswell.

• View a video made exclusively for the Virtual Vortex by renowned steam-punk artist Kris Kuksi on the “Magister’s World.”

• Mind-meld with the “Core Brain” to determine the Artists’ Choice Singularity Award.

A link to the virtual world, which contains a gallery of all the student submissions, a video of the winners being announced, and judges’ comments, is available at FB.com/shafergallery and at shafergallery.org.

Best of Show 3-D

Isabelle Gonzalez, “Untitled,” Sculpture, Hoisington High School 

Best of Show 2-D

Heavin Hipp, “Untitled,” Batik, Hoisington High School

Director’s Choice Award

Macy Doctor, “Numb,” Ink, Great Bend High School

Ceramics

First Place, Elcy Gonzalez, “Untitled,” Ceramic, Great Bend High School

Second Place, Mya Maxwell, “Elevation,” Ceramic, Ellinwood High School

Third Place, Wittney Hammeke, “The Sun, Moon, and a Hollywood Star,” Ceramic, Ellinwood High School

Honorable Mention, Emma Hickel, “Patience,” Ceramics, Central Plains High School 

Sculpture

First Place, Isabelle Gonzalez, “Untitled,” Sculpture, Hoisington High School

Second Place, Ryenne Cunningham, “Reborn,” Mixed Media, Central Plains High School

Third Place, Anna Popp, “Protect Your Heart,” Metal, Great Bend High School

Honorable Mention, Heavin Hipp, “Untitled,” Sculpture, Hoisington High School

Digital Media

First Place, Isabelle Gonzalez, “Untitled,” Digital Media, Hoisington High School

Second Place, Tiffany Nelson, “Stomp,” Digital Media, Larned High School

Third Place, Paige Cobb, “Anika,” Digital Media, Larned High School

Honorable Mention, Gunner Cline, “DeVante Parker,” Digital Media, Larned High School

Painting

First Place, Ashley Herrman, “Colorful Life of Jupiter,” Oil, Ellinwood High School

Second Place, Isabelle Gonzalez, “Untitled,” Acrylic, Hoisington High School

Third Place, Karen Lovett, “Untitled,” Acrylic, Hoisington High School

Honorable Mention, Jaslyn Vasquez, “Untitled,” Ink, Hoisington

Graphic Media

First Place, Erin Hammeke, “Serve,” Charcoal, Ellinwood High School

Second Place, Elizeia Knapp-Blehm, “Stop the Hate,” Graphite, Central Plains High School

Third Place, Alondra Alvarez, “Memento Mei,” Graphite, Great Bend High School

Honorable Mention, Valeria Piedra, “The Great Protector,” Graphite, Great Bend High School

Color Media

First Place, Khary Cross, “Untitled,” Pastel, Hoisington High School

Second Place, Ashley Herrman, “Exploration of Wonder,” Colored Pencil, Ellinwood High School

Third Place, Nora VanScyoc, “Gone,” Colored Pencil, Central Plains High School

Honorable Mention, Halle Barker, “Waterfall,” Color Pastel, Larned High School

For more information, contact Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes at barnesd@bartonccc.edu or 620-792-9342.