Mercy Academy Junior wins Grand Prize in 33rd annual Horsing Around with Art student art competition presented by WinStar Farm
Distinctive and Divisional award winners, honorable mentions also announced
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 24, 2019) – Kentucky Derby Museum is pleased to announce the grand prize winner of the Horsing Around With Art competition, presented by WinStar Farm. McKayla Rakestraw, a junior at Mercy Academy, was awarded the top prize out of more than 220 entries from 30 Metro Louisville schools.
Rakestraw’s painting, featuring the iconic Twin Spires, signature Kentucky Derby red roses surrounding a horse and jockey reflected in the Derby trophy under a sky inspired by the style of Vincent Van Gogh was judged to best “capture the spirit of the Kentucky Derby”. She won six box seats to Kentucky Derby 145 and her artwork will be professionally framed and displayed in the Museum for one year. Mercy Academy’s art department will also receive $500 for art supplies.
Kentucky Derby Museum Patrick Armstrong, Education Coordinator Heather Hill and other staff members, along with several members of McKayla’s family surprised her with a dozen red roses and the news that she’d won the contest this morning at Mercy Academy.
Other distinctive and divisional award winners in the contest were also announced today.
The art competition is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade from Louisville Metro public, private or parochial schools and showcases the student’s take on the Kentucky Derby in different artistic style, media and form. The exhibit runs now through February 17th.
All winners and exhibiting students will be recognized in a special ceremony at the Kentucky Derby Museum on February 12th. For more information on Horsing Around With Art, including the complete list of winners, click here.
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About Kentucky Derby Museum (DerbyMuseum.org) Kentucky Derby Museum, a 501(C)(3) non-profit public charity organization in Louisville, Kentucky has a commitment to ENGAGE, EDUCATE and EXCITE everyone about the extraordinary experience that is the KENTUCKY DERBY.