Art has helped us transcend and break barriers for centuries. It has kept us connected to the past and has helped us understand it. Art sends a message that sometimes can not be explained, that’s why it continues to thrive and help us understand each other.
Two Denton High students’ art works were recently accepted into the 2021 Young American Talent Competition (YAT). YAT is a juried Visual Art competition for North Texas High School students.
“I’m so proud,” DHS Art teacher James Rosin said.
The annual event encourages the pursuit of artistic excellence among Dallas-area high school students by providing an opportunity to compete with peers, participate in a juried art exhibit and receive recognition in a professional gallery setting.
“It’s quite the honor to be selected.” Rosin said.
Last year 1120 works were entered and 130 were selected. This year 1126 works were submitted and 134 were selected as finalists. Students from art magnet schools like Booker T. Washington are also competing this year.
“Super excited for my students and DHS. I think I even cried a little.” Rosin said.
Junior Dalya Kinsizer is one of the two Denton High students whose artwork was selected for the competition. Her art piece “Quarantine 3” is her third piece from her quarantine series.
“It has the most important value for me, because overall I believe it reflects the reality of quarantine and how emotionally we have all dealt with the reality of isolation.” Kinsizer said.
Strayed from a typical charcoal painting, the reverse method was used for this piece to demonstrate a more realistic version of a human skeleton. “Quarantine 3” is a piece which reflects the loneliness an individual feels during the isolation period.
“The sense of abandonment, loneliness, and desperation were what I was aiming for in the emotion of this piece,” Kinsizer said
Kinsizer plans on academically pursuing her art career in the future and hopes on becoming an architect. “Art has been my refuge and sanctuary. Art has really carried the game for me, because being alone isn’t my favorite thing, and by creating art,” Kinsizer said. “I never felt that alone.”
The 2021 Young American Talent Competition awards were announced earlier this April. Neither Denton High students won in their respective categories. Despite this, both students continue to challenge themselves in their art.
“Art is like sports in a way, you have to practice so you don’t lose your hand-eye coordination because it is a skill after all” Kinsizer said.