The State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia recently announced the winners of its 2024 Student Art Competition.
The competition, funded by The J.A. and H.G. Woodruff, Jr. Charitable Trust, is open to students in 9th grade and above, including college students attending school full- or part-time in Georgia.
This competition is sponsored to select original artwork that may be used to create signature items for sale at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia gift shop, such as note cards, T-shirts, scarves and mugs. Winning artwork may also be used on the garden website, brochures and promotional materials.
This year’s winners are:
1st place – Jiayi Guo, University of Georgia
Jiayi Guo’s work is entitled “Mar 23rd in 2024, Sunny.” She captured her experience at the State Botanical Garden on a sunny afternoon in March following a rainy week. Guo said she visits the botanical garden with her family often.
“It has become a part of my life,” said Guo. “I like the atmosphere there, including the fragrance of plants. However, despite my familiarity with everything in the botanical garden, it still touches me, just like the moment on March 23rd.”
2nd place – Chantelle Chapman, Kennesaw State University
Chantelle Chapman’s painting, “Georgia Flora and Fauna,” was inspired by native Georgia wildlife and plants. “Our state bird, the Brown Thrasher, the native beautyberry plant, upon which many birds rely for food, and the iconic Georgia peach,” Chapman said.
3rd place – Ansley Hovater, Westminster Christian Academy
“Beneath the Veil” by Ansley Hovater is inspired by “The Scarlet Letter” and flowers used as symbols in literature.
“ ‘Beneath the Veil’ illustrates the hidden meaning of flowers behind the elaborate veil of their outward appearance,” said Hovater. “Each of these flowers symbolizes a significant attribute. The sunflower represents loyalty, the daisy symbolizes innocence, the tulip means love, and the iris stands for faith. Loyalty, love, faith and innocence only scratch the surface of the hidden meanings that hide beneath the veil of flowers’ beauty.”
Hovater completed the prints by carving the images on a soft linoleum block and transferred the images using water-based black ink.
“I am so impressed by the art competition submissions we received this year and how the State Botanical Garden inspires students from across the state,” said the garden’s director, Jenny Cruse-Sanders. “We are thrilled that we can share these students’ artwork with our visitors, and I thank everyone who submitted their work in the competition.”
Honorable mentions for this year’s competition include:
• Zoe Anderson, Union Grove High School, “Twisty”
• Vivian Huynh, University of Georgia, “Botanical Springs”
For more information about the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
Writer: Laurel Clark, laurel.clark@uga.edu
Contact: garden@uga.edu