World Environment Day was June 5, 2012–the day to celebrate people’s power to positively change our environment and the future. Every action counts, and when multiplied by a global chorus, becomes exponential in its impact.

In honor of World Environment Day, Rainforest Trust asked our community to creatively demonstrate how they each conserve and respect our environmental resources. Reaching out to the next generation, Rainforest Trust asked Fauquier High School students to participate in an art challenge. The goal was to show how they love the Earth and want to conserve its resources by using their creativity.

Thanks to the support of the Art Department Chair Charlene Root, M.Ed, and art teacher Dawn Brown, M.Ed., 20 students from Art I, Art II, and Art IV classes submitted projects for the contest. Students researched the rainforest, chose their subjects, and created artworks in a variety of mediums. For many students, it was the first time they ever entered a contest.

“Students loved the contest! They really liked that they could actually win rainforest acres,” said Brown. Each and every entry was a beautiful commentary on the student’s individual interpretation of what the rainforest meant to them. Some went so far as to add visual representations of buildings, light bulbs, and other “mankind” references as juxtaposition against nature. Next year Rainforest Trust plans to open the contest up to more schools and more students.

Students awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place were gifted rainforest acres that will be forever saved in their honor. In addition, three honorable mentions were chosen.

Artwork was judged by Nikki Whipkey, Professor of Art at George Mason University and Adjunct Professor at NOVA Loudoun Campus. All entries were judged using a blind judging process–the judge did not know the name of the entrant or grade level. Nikki received her B.A. from Seaton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, and her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. She studied life drawing at The Lorenzo di Medici University in Florence, Italy.

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Clockwise from top left:
1st place: Ellen, 12th grade. Parrot with Earth in eye and green (one dimensional) buildings representing how industry is replacing nature’s beauty, watercolor.
2nd place: Alaina, 12th grade. Frog before fire.
3rd place: Annamaria, 12th grade. Acrylic painting of a gorilla’s face portraying an energy saving light bulb.