By Lisa Morales - Archbishop Curley Notre Dame HS

Six young artists from archdiocesan middle schools received the Middle School Art Festival Viewer�s Pick Award - and had their work seen by hundreds of visitors - during the First Friday Art Walk held March 7 at McCormick Place in downtown Miami. 

This event topped off Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep's annual Middle School Art Festival that began in December with a selection process, continued with the art being reviewed by Miami art professionals, and ended January at ACND�s gallery with an opening reception and exhibit of all 30 pieces. The top six art pieces were chosen by popular vote.

The Viewer�s Choice Winners were: Samara Gustafson, Brother Rice Honors Academy (Miami); Gabriela Perez-Robles, Our Lady of the Lakes (Miami Lakes); Elizabeth Rivera, St. Mary Cathedral (North Miami); Astrid Savaresse, St. Patrick (Miami Beach); Alexandria Celaya, Sts. Peter and Paul (Miami); Rebecca Jean, St. Rose (Miami Shores)

Students had an opportunity to meet and see the studios of the resident artists including Eleazar Delgado, Monique Lassooij, Andrea Beloff, Eva Avila, Andres Conde, Karen Kim. Also, the jurists for the art festival, professional artists Marcelo Holzinger, Jane Harris and Cuqui Beguiristain, along with McCormick Place owner Sean McCormick, were there to applaud the students� achievement.

�I am very excited about the urban growth and the development of the world-renowned art districts near to ACND - Wynwood, the Design District, and now downtown Miami with its galleries and flagship, the Perez Art Museum,� said Douglas Romanik, ACND�s principal. �We aim to provide as many opportunities for our own students and those who participate in ACND�s outreach programs, such as the Middle School Art Festival, to connect and learn from professionals. Just last week our middle school students worked with the pastry chef at the Buena Vista Deli (across the street) on Pi Day, March 14th. Making pies and other circular desserts was the best math lesson!�

This June, ACND�s Summer Knights Visual and Performing Arts Camp will connect campers each week to artists, galleries, and museums. Field trips and workshops have been scheduled with ACND Prep�s cultural partners: O�Cinema (Wynwood) and FilmGate/Indie Film Club; Perez Art Museum Miami (downtown Miami); De la Cruz Collection (Miami Design District); Wynwood Art Walk; and Spoken Word Artist and Vocalist, Omilani.

ACND also offers a sports camp taught by veteran coaches and special guests with experience in focus areas. The camps cost $100 per week with discounts for multiple week enrollment.