For the month of February, Reeltown High School hosted its first “Change Makers – A Celebration of Black History” art contest and exhibit. There were five winners across the student body.
Destiny Walters, junior high second place winner
Eighth grader Walters focused her piece on Jim Crow laws. She incorporated quotes from Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. as well as dates of important events during the Civil Rights Movement. Walters said it was a lot of drawing then she ultimately made a collage out of each of the elements. In school, Walters enjoys English language arts the most, as she comes from a family of book lovers. Outside of school, Walters does marching band, track, and basketball with plans on trying out for softball. After high school, she hopes to attend college at Georgia Tech or Tennessee State to study business.
Abigail Murphy / TPI Alyssa Butler wins first place in the junior high school category with her piece, left, and Destiny Walters places second in the junior high school category.
Alyssa Butler, junior high first place winner
Butler, a seventh grader, went with a more abstract approach with an African inspired landscape and the words, “darker shades make beautiful beginnings,” over top. She said the painting frustrated her at first but after getting things cleaned up, the shapes started to form, and she began painting what she saw within the canvas. While Butler is part of the art club at school, she also loves science and math. After high school, Butler aspires to be an entomologist to study bugs and the value they bring to the planet. Although for now, outside of school, she practices the flag with plans on trying out for color guard next year.
Aymarie Bryant, high school third place winner
Sophomore Bryant created a symbolic piece about the inhumanity of slavery. The drawing has a skeleton with wings and shackles sitting below a tree with the words, “not all glitter is gold, not all people are human.” It is a sign of hope, with the skeleton holding out a dove, which represented the freedom to come with emancipation. While Bryant enjoys creating art, her favorite subject is science. She is working on applying to the Alabama School of Math and Science to eventually become a marine biologist. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, soccer and spending time with her sisters.
Abigail Murphy / TPI Aymarie Bryant wins third place in the high school category for Reeltown’s Black History Month art contest.
Jaylee Noe, high school second place winner
Noe, a ninth grader, was largely inspired by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. She created a drawing tying in quotes from each of them as well as images representing their personal loves like reading books and eating pecan pie. She also added butterflies, symbols of change and transformation. Noe also enjoys science and horticulture because it lets her be hands-on and explore her love for nature. After high school, she hopes to attend Auburn University to play softball and pursue zookeeping. Currently outside of school, Noe does scholar bowl, plays softball and previously was a majorette.
Abigail Murphy / TPI Jaylee Noe wins second place in the high school category for Reeltown’s Black History Month art contest.
Angel Bertl, high school first place winner
Bertl, a junior, created her artwork by blending digital art, painting and drawing. With her piece, she had Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and two African goddesses as the subjects. Along with art, Bertl also enjoys agriculture and shop classes and outside of school she enjoys horseback riding, taxidermy and crocheting. After high school, Bertl said she hopes to go into the Marine Corps. After that, she would like to go into either forensic science or veterinarian practice for exotic animals.
Abigail Murphy / TPI Angel Bertl wins first place in the high school category for Reeltown’s Black History Month art contest.
