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2007 08 24

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v04n17)

Residents display art and craft skills at State Fair - By Lindsey Taylor

posted: Aug. 24, 2007

By Lindsey Taylor

Broad Ripple area residents made a grand slam at the Indiana State Fair, winning rewards on their unique pieces.

Nora Spitznogle and Elizabeth Hague, both Broad Ripple residents and Gazette staffers, had award-winning art on display at the State Fair.

Spitznogle had entered a unique guitar shaped salt and pepper shaker in the antiques division, while Hague designed a rug that featured Ruiz, a Canine Companion for Independence (CCI) dog whom she trained though CCI graduation.

Spitznogle won third place with her guitar salt and pepper shaker, while Hague's hooked rug won a first place ribbon in the original design hooked rug division.

Broad Ripple High School students also made their presence known at the fair, displaying their hard work and talent through the eXceL Awards Program.

The eXceL program was established in 1989. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance has been a strong sponsor for the eXceL Awards Program, which provides scholarship money to Indiana youths interested in the creative and performing arts.

Each year Broad Ripple High School teachers give students the theme of the year's eXceL Program for students who wish to participate. This year's theme was "Risk," exactly what Evangeline Hodgson and Morgan Smith took when they entered this year's program and had their art displayed at the Indiana State Fair.

Evangeline Hodgson won many different categories, including first place in 2-D art for her piece called 153, a collage representing the Marion County death rate in 2006.

"I chose this to represent risk because these people were murdered because of risks they had taken, whether they were in a fight they had started or involved in something dangerous in their lives," says Hodgson. "I used newspaper clippings of who was murdered and how they were murdered. I also used negative obituary photos of the victims."

Morgan Smith had another idea of what 'risk' was and used it in her first quilt. "I worked two hours a day five days a week from September to January. It took me a month to complete the very first square because I had never quilted before," says Smith.

Smith's quilt was titled "There is a Better Day Coming."

Smith used ideas that she had came across in her Advanced Placement English class dealing with slavery.

"We were given a writing prompt in class about Frederick Douglas and his escape to freedom," Smith said. "I also used the history I found on slavery and quilt making about how messages were sewn onto quilts and hung on clotheslines in order for slaves to communicate with one another.

"I thought that was a good idea for this year's theme."

Hodgson and Smith have both been involved in this program throughout their high school careers. "This year I wanted to go for the finals," said Smith.

Hodgson says that she is just glad she got to go out with a bang this year. "I like the dramatic type art and the judges seem to like the shock art better."

The two young ladies are on their way to college this week so next year they will not be involved in the eXceL Program as it is only offered to high school students. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance's website has more information on how to become involved with the program. www.infarmbureau.com

Gazette: Elizabeth Hague

Residents display art and craft skills at State Fair - By Lindsey Taylor

Gazette: Nora Spitznogle

eXceL Awards

BRHS: eXceL: Evangeline Hodgson's collage titled 153.

BRHS: eXceL: Morgan Smith's quilt titled "There is a Better Day Coming".

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