NORTH ADAMS – North Adams Public Schools is thrilled to announce that Drury High School senior Anna Bond has won the Rising Star Award from the Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA).
MAEA’s Rising Star Award “recognizes a high school junior or senior for their leadership and excellence in visual art related activities who exhibits a dedication to the profession of visual arts, as evidenced by a commitment to pursuing higher education in a visual art field.” Criteria for selection also includes volunteer work at the school or community level. Drury visual art teacher Amanda Hartlage nominated Bond for excellence in visual artmaking, her dedication to her personal growth as an artist, and her experience in the MASS MoCA Teen Artist Mentorship Program (TAM).
“This was the first year of the MASS MoCA TAM program, and Anna embraced the opportunity to spend time in the studio, learn directly from exhibiting artists, and build connections with professional artists. During her independent study at school, she experimented with materials: challenging herself by creating a six-foot oil pastel drawing of a goldfish. She thoughtfully explored questions about art and the creative process. She brings both creativity and critical thinking to her work,” Hartlage shared. Bond was featured in a Teen Artist Spotlight where she gave a public artist talk about her experience as a mentee in the program at the end of September and shared images of the artwork she has created in the last year.
According to Principal Stephanie Kopala, “Anna is an incredibly talented artist whose curiosity, creativity, and willingness to challenge herself truly set her apart. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is the way she has pursued opportunities to grow beyond the classroom that include learning from professional artists, experimenting with new ideas and materials, and sharing her own work with the broader community. Anna represents the very best of Drury: a student who takes ownership of her learning, seeks out new experiences, and isn't afraid to push herself beyond what she already knows. We are incredibly proud of Anna and thrilled to see her talent and dedication recognized by the Massachusetts Art Education Association.”
Bond will be honored with the award at MAEA’s statewide awards celebration on Friday, October 16th in Sturbridge, MA. As the winner of this award, she will also receive a $500 cash prize.
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