2020 Bernice Spigel Prize recipient announced

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Each year during the Student Arts Expo a high school senior is chosen to receive the Bernice Spigel Prize for Excellence in the Visual Arts that includes a cash prize and an opportunity to present a solo exhibition in the Creative Arts Guild’s Gallery One11.

The late Bernice Spigel, the namesake of the coveted award and the first executive director of the Creative Arts Guild, was one of a group of local artists and visionaries whose remarkable foresight and initiative led to the founding of the Guild 57 years ago.

This year the prize was awarded to Murray County High School senior Caleb Faulknor.

Caleb said, “I’ve been an artist my entire life. Ever since I could hold a pencil, I’ve drawn and scribbled and worked my way through sheets of paper. I began taking art classes in high school and developed an aptitude for a variety of media including pottery, painting, textiles, drawing and folk art. I have entered and won first place in a number of competitions including making it into the final round of the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.”

Caleb plays in the Murray County High School marching and concert bands with a leadership role as percussion lieutenant. He is a member of the Beta Club and the National Honor Society.

The judging panel appreciated the vibrancy of Caleb’s color choices and technical skill involved in the layering and blending of dyes as applied to his batik pieces. A true development of his craft was recognized, as was his ability to articulate the choices he made when creating his body of work.

The Guild applauds Caleb’s artistic spirit and commends him for this significant achievement.

What is the Student Arts Expo?

Each year, all Whitfield, Dalton and Murray County public, private and homeschool students ages pre-k to high school are invited to exhibit individual art. All forms of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art are accepted.

In addition to the Spigel Prize, awards are given for best works of art in each grade level. Also, school classrooms are encouraged to submit collaborative work in the “Art Together” project.

Prizes for best work are awarded before the exhibit officially opens on Friday, March 6. 

For more information about the Student Arts Expo and other gallery events, contact Savannah Thomas at savannaht@creativeartsguild.org or (706) 279-3129.