A Jefferson City High School student won the top prize in the abstract expressionism art contest hosted by Jefferson City Museum of Modern Art.
Winning the $400 first-place prize was Judy Vansant, Jefferson City High School, for her painting "Letting Go."
Vansant said of her painting: "I'm someone who likes to create well thought out and detailed paintings, something that clearly makes sense. When my art teacher told us that our abstract paintings would be turned in for an art competition, I freaked out. I automatically saw my abstract painting as mess instead art.
"My teacher helped show me that every painting doesn't has be exact and clean, and that sometimes I have to let go of being perfect to be a little messy sometimes."
"Brainwaves" by Mia Grayse, Jefferson City High School, won $300 and second place for "Brainwaves" in the contest. Meghan Maples, Blair Oaks High School, won $200 and third place for "My Piano Man-Play Me a Memory." Honorable mentions and $100 prizes went to Bella Lyskowski, Helias High School, for "Beauty in Chaos" and Kesrah Mattadeen, Jefferson City High School, for "Contaminated."
Judges for the contest were Mayor Carrie Tergin; Jim Dyke, owner of Cottonstone Art Gallery and Frame Shop; and Sam Bushman, Cole County presiding commissioner. The Jefferson City Museum of Modern Art, 220 E. High St., is owned by Rich and Mary Howerton.