Belizean students excel in international art competition; one student makes it in the top 3

A ten year old student from Holy Redeemer made to the top three in an international art competition. Tasia Sutherland competed among students from around the globe and her piece entitled, “Again at the Principal’s Office” was picked among the winning entries in a competition organized by the Taiwanese Government. Tasia was among a group of elated Belizean students who were honored today. Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Today at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall six students were honored for their exceptional art pieces that gained international recognition in the forty-fourth annual World School Children’s Art Exhibition of the Republic of China. Over thirty thousand entries were tendered from some fifty-three countries and of the fourteen sent by Belize, ten year old Tasia Sutherland captured third place with her piece titled, “Again, at the Principal’s Office.”

Tasia Sutherland, Bronze Winner, World School Children’s Art Exhibition

Tasia Sutherland

“The inspiration was that the girls were doing bad so they had to go to the principal’s office because they weren’t in their uniforms.”

Reporter

“Have you always been an avid lover of art?”

Tasia Sutherland

“Yes I’ve always been a lover of art. Every since I was little, I loved to draw.”

Reporter

“Tell us about some of the things that you learned and how you applied it to your artwork that won the bronze?”

Tasia Sutherland

“I’ve learned that when you color, you can’t like go around the edges, you have to stay between the lines. I would like to tell young people that they can join the art program and practice and who knows, they might win something as well.”

Reporter

“I know this is an annual thing, do you intend to compete again next year?”

Tasia Sutherland

“Yes I want to compete again next year.”

The World School Children Art Exhibit is annually organized by the Association for Education through Art and the Association of Formative Art Education for the Republic of China (Taiwan) and aims to promote understanding and friendship among children across the world through the exchange of artwork. This is the second year that Belize is participating says Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize, David Wu.

David Wu

David Wu, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize

“Six of them won recognition, one won the bronze medal; five of them won the selected award. So we are very proud that the Belizean young artists are very talented and they participated in this international art exhibition and they showed their talent and skills.  We believe that art can transcend national boundary because with art we can really touch the heart of other people in the world. I believe that this country is full of potential; people here who are very talented. So we encourage your school children to participate in this kind of international art exhibition more.”

Locally, to assist with the art program is Fiona Huang. Huang says that while the competition catered to children ages six to fifteen, the art program targets both the young and the old. It also teaches several techniques with oil paints, water colors, prints, pencil or crayon drawings, collages, graphic designs and face painting.

Fiona Huang

Fiona Huang, Teacher, Art Club

“These entries are from Saint Joseph Art Club, but including students from Holy Redeemer School. We worked together to participate in this art competition so that is why it is very special year and also it is Holy Redeemer Schools first time they participate in this art exhibition. I’m a volunteer from Taiwan and I teach art in St. Joseph Primary School. Since 2008, we established art club. We provide over one hundred and eighty classes yearly to our children, teens, even adults and teachers. The programs we are running are postcard projects and face-painting program that is promoting entrepreneurial skills of our young artists.”

Along with Sutherland’s piece, five other artworks from Belize were on display at the Nan-Hai Gallery of National Arts Education Center in Taipei.  Duane Moody for News Five.