The 2022 Wood County Schools Art Expressions exhibit was held at the Parkersburg Art Center April 24 and 25, with several PHS students placing in their categories. This year’s exhibit was back in person after last year’s virtual event, and saw an increase in participation from artists.

Each category was based on grade, and with over 300 student participants. Senior Harper Lawrence placed first in the twelfth grade, junior Ellie Roberts placed first in the eleventh grade and sophomore Nate McPeak placed first in the tenth grade. Two students also placed in the ninth grade; freshmen Jillian Ward in second and Emily Winter in third.

Many students put time and effort into the artworks showcased over the weekend, including Lawrence who used lab slides of 49 female blood samples as the basis of her piece, to represent the the 49 percent of the population which is female.

“I created my piece, “The ‘Visible’ Woman”, over a weekend in February,” said Lawrence. “Most of my art is just visually pleasing to me, but this piece means a lot to me because it comments on society’s view of women. There are lots of hidden meanings within. There are three labeled slides covering what society defines a woman as. The layer of slides over the piece represents visibility, and how there’s political movement to pay attention to women, but they’re still invisible.”

The full list of winners:

Grade 12

First — Harper Lawrence, Parkersburg High School.

Second — Mikayla Bryan, Parkersburg South High School.

Third — Kandi Alltop, Parkersburg South.

Grade 11

First — Ellie Roberts, PHS.

Second — Rylee Waggoner, South.

Third — Kamryn Sallee, South.

Grade 10

First — Nate McPeak, PHS.

Second — Hannah Vanlue, South.

Third — Anna Ware, South.

Grade 9

First — Samantha McKinney, South.

Second — Jillian Ward, PHS.

Third — Emily Winter, PHS.

Grade 8

First — Riley Kerns, Edison Middle School.

Second — Dharma Dillon-Fountaine, Edison.

Third — Rylinn Stull, Hamilton Middle School.

Grade 7

First — Alaina Parsons, Jackson Middle School.

Second — Izzy Earley, Edison.

Third — Savannah Burdick, Edison.

Grade 6

First — Aleah Gibson, Blennerhassett Middle School.

Second — Analeigh Bennett, Edison.

Third — Cheyanne Rummer, Jackson.

Grade 5

First — Aleena Johnson, Williamstown Elementary School.

Second — Mia Butterford, Emerson Elementary School.

Third — Jensyn Stump, Williamstown.

Grade 4

First — Kennedy Curtis, Jefferson Elementary Center.

Second — Jace Riffle, Vienna Elementary School.

Third — Gracie Uhl, Neale Elementary School.

Grade 3

First — Zaikiyah Jackson, Jefferson.

Second — Brooklyn Pando, Jefferson.

Third — Hazel Flowers, Jefferson.

A People’s Choice award was voted on by public attendees at the exhibit Sunday, April 25, and was awarded to Brayden Stephens of Jackson Middle School.