The Capital Arts gallery was filled Thursday with people viewing students' painting and drawings of Jefferson City buildings and architecture, including various angles and parts of the state Capitol, Governor's Mansion, Central Dairy, Cole County Courthouse and more.
The winners of High School Sketch Day, an annual art contest for area high school students, were announced at a reception Thursday evening.
Fifty-two students from at least five area high schools participated in Sketch Day on May 3. Each student selected a building to sketch or paint, went to their chosen location and completed their works of art.
In the beginner category, Jefferson City High School student Makailyn Mantle won first place; Helias student Khloe Smith won second place; and Capital City High School student Landon Wieberg won third place. JCHS student Daisy Vaught, CCHS student Hannah Geising and home school student Abigail Regnier received honorable mentions.
In the advanced category, Calvary Lutheran High School student Becca Schatte won first place; Helias student Nicole Landwher won second place; and Helias Catholic High School student Emma Komoviski won third place. JCHS student Maya Crowley, Helias student Haylee Silvey and JCHS student Stephanie Crocker received honorable mentions.
Winners of the Mayor's Choice - judged by Mayor Carrie Tergin - include Helias student Jessica Koenigsfeld and Tuscumbia student Allison Whittle.
The winners received cash prizes, including $200 for first place, $150 for second, $100 for third and $60 for honorable mentions.
Sketch Day has historically been sponsored by the Jefferson City Art Club, which canceled it last year and had planned to cancel it this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Capital Arts and the Historic City of Jefferson agreed to sponsor it so the event could continue. Capital Arts President Holly Nunn said she was excited to sponsor High School Sketch Day and see so many people participate and attend the reception.
"Sketch Day has been around for a long time - I actually still have my piece of art from High School Sketch Day in my little art portfolio - so we were excited to pick it up this year," she said.
Capital Arts Executive Director Lori Jobe said she was overwhelmed by all of the amazing artwork.
"It was fun to watch the judges fight over whose was the best," she said
One of the judges was Holly Stitt, local business owner and chairwoman of the Cultural Arts Commission, who has an extensive background in art.
"There was some tremendously great art done," Stitt said. "It was really hard to make a decision."
Tergin said she was excited for Sketch Day to continue this year, and she and the other judges were impressed with every entry.
"Every piece in here had something very special and unique about it," she said. "After coming off of the year when we didn't have Sketch Day, I think that we took it for granted. It's great to be back."
All Sketch Day entries will be displayed in the gallery at Capital Arts, 1203 Missouri Blvd., until Saturday.
The gallery is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. The art is also on the Capital Arts website, capitalarts.org.