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Luverne students' works of art selected for Perpich Center display

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Artworks by two Luverne High School students were singled out for display at Saturday’s Perpich Center’s Spotlight on the Arts show in Golden Valley.
Senior Joel Ortiz and junior Talitha Andersen earned the Judges’ Choice award April 26 at the Region 3A Minnesota State High School League Visual Arts Competition in Olivia.
Art instructor Chris Nowatzki worked with the students to explore various art media and select their final projects for the art show.
“Both pieces show great skill and attention to detail and they each have a message which exemplifies each artist’s personal voice,” he said.
Ortiz created a black ink drawing of a whale using a doodle art or zentangle style.
“I was surprised,” Ortiz said of receiving the award. “I didn’t think my style of artwork would be good enough.”
Called “Once a Free Roamer,” the large whale is depicted swimming in the ocean with its tail being swallowed and his body covered with pollutants.
“I depicted how pollutants in the ocean are nearly overwhelming the whale,” he wrote in his artist’s statement. “The similarities between the designs covering the whale and the patterns on the machine show how they are both products of man.”
Ortiz said he challenged himself by detailing his doodling style in context with his message.
“My intention of this project was to remind people of the pollution in our oceans and the negative effects on aquatic life,” his statement read.
Talitha Andersen’s acrylic painting on gessoed or primed watercolor paper is a tribute to her late grandfather, Luverne Selwyn, of Yankton, South Dakota.
She titled the painting of two horses and an eagle, “My Tribute/Mitakuye Oyosin.” Mitakuye Oyosin is Lakota for “We are all related.”
“I used painted horses because he (grandfather) used them a lot in his work,” she said.
The eagle represents her grandfather and the horses are depictions of her looking up at her grandfather.
“Native Americans often believe that a strong spirit often takes form in a sacred animal once they enter the spirit world,” she included in her artist’s statement.
“Throughout my time on this piece, I discovered that everything upon this earth has meaning, even the tools we use for creation.”
Both Ortiz and Andersen received superior ratings from the judges at the regional art contest.
Senior Lilli Donahue also received a superior rating on her work.
Freshman Trissa Finkral and sophomores Katlin Petronek and Rylee Gee earned excellent ratings.

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