Lizzy Karp's piece entitled "Serenus Dies"

Evidence of art has been catalogued throughout the entire existence of man. From paleolithic cave paintings to the Renaissance movement and its art, up to the present day where anonymous England-based graffiti artist Banksy creates images of provoking political activism and dark humor.

History may argue that, perhaps, art and creative expression is the lifeblood of humankind.

And it seems that lifeblood has began pumping again at Blue Earth Area Schools. After a multi-year hiatus, the BEA?Art Club started up again last year, with the help of BEA visual arts instructor and the club’s advisor Sara Albright, and has returned to Sections competition.

This year, two of BEA’s young artists, Lizzy Karp and Heidi Herrmann, after rigorous Sections judging, have qualified to take their masterpieces to State, which they attended on May 5.

“There are awards given by judges looking at categories such as composition, craftsmanship, process and problem solving, expressive qualities, and artist statement,” says Albright. “The scoring for each piece is out of 20 points; 15-17 receives an Excellent rating, while scores of 18-20 receive a Superior rating. Then, out of the Superior ratings, they choose a Spotlight Winner, or best of show. Those winners are allowed to take their work to the State Art Show at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley.”

Karp's award-winning sculpture, "Jade Dragon."

BEA was allowed to take 18 pieces to Sections and out of the 18 pieces, they brought home 10 Superior ratings, seven Excellent ratings, and three pieces received the coveted Spotlight. There were 14 other schools competing at Sections.

Karp earned the Spotlight in two categories: painting and ceramics, while Herrmann earned the Spotlight honor in the Mixed Media category.

As an entire club, BEA returned home from the Sections competition with 17 out of a possible 18 awards.

Both Karp and Herrmann took their families with them to the State competition.

This is Albright’s 17th year of teaching visual art at BEA and she says her experience with students has been very rewarding and emphasizes the importance of art in education.

Heidi Herrmann next to her mixed media project entitled "Self Portrait"

“All art students need a good understanding of language and techniques of visual arts as well as visiting the history of art. The students build upon those skills as they grow and use those skills to create their own works,” says Albright. “I try to stress with my students they can use those skills to express who they are; to not be afraid to be themselves, and be comfortable to share their uniqueness with the world and try to make it a better place. I am hoping they take these lessons learned and become contributing members to society.”

For Karp and Herrmann, it seems they have certainly embraced Albright’s teaching with their unique talents and are fearless in sharing who they are through their art.

Karp, daughter of Bobby and Rochelle Karp, is a senior from Blue Earth. She says she has always doodled and colored as a kid but started seriously perfecting her art and expanding her skills in eighth grade.

“Art is important to me because I am a visual person. I am a visual learner in school and I like to see the skill and effort that is put into the creation of things,” says Karp. “I think it is important for students to learn about visual art because it creates solid images that add specification and clarification to an otherwise boring text. Certain images teach about human history. There are many paintings from ancient times that depict what life was like, and they give insight to what technology, beliefs and trends our ancestors had.”

Karp says she truly enjoyed seeing all of the amazing artwork that other students crafted at the Sections competition.

“It was intriguing to see what inspired others and how creative we all are,” she says. “My artistic inspirations are Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Bamgboye of Odo-Owa, John Constable, and Shigeru Miyamoto and his team of artists, as well as numerous social media artists.”

Her piece entitled “Serenus Dies” was inspired by her and her cousins in their dresses on an oceanside beach, while her sculpture, entitled “Jade Dragon” was inspired by ancient Chinese culture and mythology.

Herrmann, the sophomore from Delavan and daughter of Kip and Debbie Herrmann, began taking her artistry a bit more seriously in sixth grade. She says she enjoys painting and mixed media because the process is relaxing for her.

“Yet, at the same time, it also challenges me,” she says. “I follow a lot of artists on social media, which is where I get most of my inspiration, and my favorite artist would be Davide Cambria, He somewhat inspired my painting entitled, ‘Self Portrait.'”

She, like her classmate, enjoyed going to Sections and seeing other students’ artwork.

“It’s very interesting to see different techniques and processes,” she adds.

Perhaps this is how the entire evolution of art has become what it has: one artist delving deeply into the inspiration of other artists to create their own works.

“I am so proud and excited to say that our Section Competition for Visual Arts was a huge success,” says Albright.