It is amazing what you can learn about fellow members during brag-a-bucks! Did you know that Nate Clemmer considered majoring in art? It was scholarship availability that led him to his current career. However, as we learned during brag-a-bucks, that love of art lives on in his Daughter Chloe. She is a 13 year old 8th grader at Williamsville Jr High School.
Nate bragged during our February 8 meeting that Chloe entered three works of art in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. She won a Silver Key Award in Drawing and Illustration for her work Melancholy (image to right). She won the Phil Martin Art Award and $100 prize for this work. Rod commented that the Phil was a long-time art teacher at Taylorville High School for many years and that he had served on the Board for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for many years. Chloe won two Honorable Mentions for two works of Digital Art that she produced on her phone -- Playing Pretend and Midnight Waltz (shown on left below). Nate commented that she has been very inspired by the recognition and continues her artwork to help her get through the pandemic. Nate exclaimed that "She is exploring a future in art and design including the Chicago Art Institute. So I guess we need to get spun up on the art scene in IL!" We are happy that Chloe gave Nate permission for us to share images of her works in our Newsletter.
During the meeting, Rod Buffington noted that he had been involved with the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the past. Rod was the Director of the Illinois Art Association from 1985-1995 and during that time, he chaired the Scholastic Awards Program.
Nate thanked Rod for his continued support for the arts, and noted that Chloe would love to meet him sometime!