Mercy Academy student takes top prize in the Kentucky Derby Museum’s 30th annual Horsing Around with Art competition
Distinctive and Divisional Award winners; honorable mentions announced
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby Museum is pleased to announce the Grand Prize Winner of the 30th annual Horsing Around With Art: A Student’s Perspective on the Sport of Kings. Hannah Brown-Paul, an 11th grader at Mercy Academy, was awarded the top prize out of all 265 entries submitted this year.
Brown-Paul won for her oil painting depicting the playful bond between horses and horsemen which best “captured the spirit” of the Kentucky Derby. Today, Kentucky Derby Museum President Patrick Armstrong and Outreach Educator Heather Hill surprised Brown-Paul and members of her family at Mercy Academy with a dozen red roses and the news that she won the competition.
“I am so proud of our artists at Mercy Academy. Junior Hannah Brown-Paul winning the Grand Prize is so special because she is a talented artist and genuine young woman. Her oil painting focuses on the relationship between the horse and human. Hannah captured that feeling in such an intimate and professional manner, that the viewer feels connected to the moment,” Mercy Academy Art Teacher Jean Belvoix said.
As the Grand Prize winner, Brown-Paul received six box seats to Kentucky Derby 142. Her artwork will be framed and displayed at the Kentucky Derby Museum for one year. Mercy Academy will also receive $500 for art supplies.
“We congratulate Hannah Brown-Paul and all of the students who submitted art for this year’s competition,” Kentucky Derby Museum President Patrick Armstrong said. “All artwork will be displayed through February 21 in the Museum’s Matt Winn Gallery. I encourage you to stop in and be amazed by the talent that is showcased at all levels from schools across Metro Louisville.”
In addition to the Grand Prize Winner, Kentucky Derby Museum is also proud to announce the winners of Horsing Around With Art’s Distinctive and Divisional Awards as well those who received an Honorable Mention. A full list can be found here.
Distinctive Award Winners:
(A description of the award categories can be found here.)
Thoroughbred Award
Peyton Harshfield, DuPont Manual High School, Grade 10
Backside Award
Valeria Vasquez Lopez, Rangeland Elementary, Grade 2
Triple Crown
Abbey Just, Mercy Academy, Grade 11
The Outriders Society Award
Olivia Trusty, Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Grade 12
Employees’ Choice Award
Jenna Kessler, Mercy Academy, Grade 11
All winners and exhibiting students will be recognized in a special ceremony at the Kentucky Derby Museum on Tuesday, February 9th.
For more information on Horsing Around With Art visit here.
Editor’s Note: Photos above
#1 Grand Prize Winning oil painting by Hannah Brown-Paul
#2 (L to R): Jean Belvoix, Mercy Academy Art Teacher, Grand Prize Winner Hannah Brown-Paul, and Kentucky Derby Museum President Patrick Armstrong
Flickr Album: bit.ly/1WMJHmg
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About Kentucky Derby Museum (DerbyMuseum.org)
Kentucky Derby Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Louisville, Kentucky has a commitment to ENGAGE, EDUCATE and EXCITE everyone about the extraordinary experience that is the KENTUCKY DERBY.
Contact:
Lindsay English
Communications Manager
(502) 814-3030
Cell (502) 777-6148
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