Consumers Energy, Grand Rapids Public Schools Name Finalists for Eighth Annual Student Art Competition

Grand Rapids, Mich. Monday, May 24, 2021

Ten Grand Rapids Public Schools students have been selected from more than 40 entries in an annual art competition focused on energy-related subjects. The artwork will be on display this fall during ArtPrize through collaboration with the district and Consumers Energy.

Representatives from the school’s administration, Consumers Energy and ArtPrize held a virtual news conference today to celebrate the SmartArt competition, highlighting energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability. Media include oil pastels, pencil/charcoal drawing, painting and mixed media.

“The students’ artwork shows their knowledge of and commitment to Consumers Energy’s clean energy transformation,” said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Consumers Energy is inspired by tomorrow’s leaders like these talented GRPS students. Our Clean Energy Plan will protect the planet as we eliminate coal by 2040 to become carbon neutral.”

This is the eighth year of the SmartArt competition, which stands for Students Making Art with a Renewable Theme. The competition didn’t take place in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The 10 finalists were selected by a panel of art professionals from Kendall College of Art & Design at Ferris State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University. The top winner will be announced Sept. 19 at Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids during ArtPrize. Consumers Energy has been an ArtPrize sponsor since 2011.

ArtPrize is an open, independently organized international art competition. It celebrates artists working in all mediums from anywhere in the world and is open to any creative with an artwork to enter and a venue willing to host it.

For 18 days, art is exhibited throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and vacant storefronts, in bars and on bridges. ArtPrize runs Sept. 16-Oct. 3.

The Top 10 SmartArt entries will be on a large banner hanging outside a Consumers Energy electric substation downtown at Fulton Street and Market Avenue.

The 10 finalists, along with their artwork title, grade, and high school are, in alphabetical order:

• Manual Gomez Diaz, Sewing Power, 10^th, Innovation Central;
• Sharon Gonzalez, Sandhill, 10^th, City;
• Nevaeh Martin, Left Untreated, 11^th, C.A. Frost;
• Sarah Robinette, Life Underwater, 10^th, City;
• Gavin Scanlon, It’s Not Too Late, 9^th, C.A. Frost;
• Ruby Taylor, Changing Tides, 11^th, C.A. Frost;
• Lilly Tuttle, Wind of Wetlands,  11^th, C.A. Frost;
• Jayde West, Something Better, 9^th,  City;
• Silas Williams, Earth Wise, 10^th, City;
• Theo Stella Williams, Life’s Helping Hands, 9^th, C.A. Frost

“In the past eight years, SmartArt has provided hundreds of GRPS students the experience of being part of a nationally recognized art competition,” said Dr. Leadriane Roby, GRPS superintendent. “It is impressive to see Consumers Energy blending art with sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

The contest’s top winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship courtesy of Consumers Energy.

“We're thrilled that SmartArt and ArtPrize are back for 2021,” said Craig Searer, ArtPrize executive director. “These creative, thought-provoking works and the students who create them continue to be shining examples of how ArtPrize can serve as a stage to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of our city’s youth.”

Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

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Consumers Energy: Roger Morgenstern, 517-499-6320

Grand Rapids Public Schools: John Helmholdt, 616-481-2152

ArtPrize: Jaenell Woods, 616-401-1608