On November 14th, Kutztown University’s Health and Wellness department sponsored the first ever Creative Royale, suported by a “Communities Talk” grant from SAMSHA and the Amos Lemon Burkhart Foundation. Over 70 student artists participated in a short guided meditation to discover their own personal prompt (a favorite color, something that makes them happy, and a current feeling they can identify). Each artist had two hours to create artwork from their prompt and hang it on the wall. They learned 4 tools for supporting mental health: Community, Mindfulness, Gratitude and Emotional Awareness. During the event, mental health and substance abuse screenings were available. Each student received a personalized kit of art supplies including a blank canvas, brushes and paint (and a “STAY ALIVE / MAKE ART” sticker). Art supplies were donated in part by Blick Allentown and the KU Bookstore. Celebrity judges (Anne Marie Hayes-Hawkinson of the KU Arts Society, Karen Stanford, Director of the Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, and Rhonda Wall, artist and Professor Emeritus) presented the following awards:
Best in show: Courtney Houseknecht
Artist’s Choice: Joey Strain (selected by votes from participating artists)
Blick Technical Ability: Angie Nguyen & Nick Rogers
Amos Lemon Burkhart Award: Maddie Zeman (selected by Dane Burkhart)
CD / Best Concept: Emi Neiberlin
#Teamfunky award: Sydney Burghese (selected by the Corez-Funk family)
Essence Literary and Fine Arts Magazine Award: Lee Pemberton (selected by Kate Clair, Essence Magazine advisor)
Miller Gallery Award: Jake Geiger
Innovative Printmaking Award : Erin McCormick (selected by Leslie Friedman)
Caricature Awards: Belen Jurado & Josh Ristovski (selected by Kevin McCloskey and John Gurney)
“I’m graduating in three weeks and this is the first time I’ve gotten to paint since I came to KU,” said Omair Ali, KUCD ‘19. “It was really great just to relax and make something for my family.”
“This was a great stress reliever” said Morgan Nadin. “We should do it every semester.”
For more information contact Frances Cortez Funk at Kutztown University.
