Tri-City United High School was again host to the Section 2A North Visual Arts Festival. Schools within the subsection presented about 120 pieces of art in total, up from about 90 last year, according to TCU High School Art Teacher Tony Barnack.
The Titan students, 15 in total, displayed the maximum allowed per school of 18 pieces, which included drawings, paintings, sculptures, crafts, digital photography, and ceramics.
A public viewing of the works was held in the high school gymnasium in the evening on Tuesday, April 7. Students viewed them the following morning and then listened to two guest speakers before awards were given out in the performing arts center.
Each of the students’ pieces were judged twice with the score being averaged for a final rating. Scores between 14.5-17 earned an excellent rating, and scores 17.5-20 earned a superior rating. For the first time in TCU history, all 18 pieces received superior ratings.
In addition to the score, judges select a total of 12 pieces from all schools combined to be Spotlight on the Arts pieces — regardless of score or category — to be displayed at the State Visual Arts Show at Wayzata High School on Saturday, May 9. TCU had six of the 12 pieces chosen to be displayed at the state show.
Superior ratings from TCU, with Spotlight on the Arts pieces noted with an asterisk, are ...
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Two of Caleigh Hoefs pieces were chosen for the state visual arts show in Wayzata. This sculpture, “The Making of a Monster” was one of them, and the other (not seen) is a ceramic piece called “Calm and Chaos.”
This “Electric Blossom” drawing by Colin Mechtel will be one of six TCU pieces at the state visual arts competition in May.

