In keeping with the overall theme, "African American Dream Builders: Achieving Economic Success," our 2003 Black History Month Art Contest celebrates African American Entrepreneurs. A general call for entries was sent to schools throughout the New Orleans area for students in grades 7 through 12. They were judged by a panel of working artists that included Tony Champagne, an artist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune daily newspaper, Traci Batchelor, an art instructor who has worked in both the New Orleans and Jefferson Parish Public School systems, and our own Jennifer Cooper who has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, CA.

Contest judges (l to r) Traci Batchelor, Jennifer Cooper and Tony Champagne deliberate over all the entries.

Art Contest winners (l to r): Justin Ryan Olivier, First Place; Cherriane McGraw, Third Place; and Nidia Bermudez, Second Place. These students were awarded gift certificates for art supplies at National Art and Hobby.

First Place winner Justin Ryan Olivier, a student at De La Salle High School, poses with his work entitled "Wally Amos."

"Simply Mary J." is the title of Nidia Bermudez' Second Place winning entry. Miss Bermudez is a Sarah T. Reed Sr. High School student.

Cherriane McGraw, also a student at Sarah T. Reed Sr. High School, poses with her work "Aaliyah-N-Left-Eye." Her entry won Third Place.

Black History Month 2003 Home

2/18/2003