DECATUR - Griffin Sparks, 11, walked away with a red ribbon in the 2009 Young Artists' Showcase awards ceremony Saturday, but his recent achievements as an artist have won him a measure of fame at Argenta-Oreana Middle School.

Griffin was among 111 fifth- through eight-grade students honored in the Anne Lloyd Gallery of the Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water St., where their paintings, drawings and ceramic and mixed media works will remain on display through Jan. 31. The showcase is an annual program of Gallery 510.

"I just like to draw," the sixth-grade student said of his drawing, "The Pilot." The son of Chris and Dena Sparks of Cisco, he recently was a winner in a nationwide contest sponsored by American Airlines to create pictures for a safety calendar.

"I drew a picture of a fireman and a little boy who had just lit a stick on fire," Griffin said. "The fireman says, 'Don't play with matches.' The little boy says, 'I'm sorry.' I won a $50 savings bond, a gift basket and a couple of calendars."

A display of Griffin's art has been placed in his middle school to honor his achievements.

A blue ribbon was garnered by Rebecca Cobb, 12, a daughter of Kris and Stephanie Honecker and a sixth-grader at Clinton Junior High School, for her drawing, "Name Alien."

"I wrote my name in marker and then turned it sideways and made it into the body of an alien," Rebecca said. The blue ribbon was the first award she has ever won for art work, she said.

Program emcee Mike Bryant, a retired Clinton art teacher who now teaches part-time in the Meridian School District, said many of the students who entered their works in the showcase have heard from parents or teachers that their creative efforts were good.

"But they look at you when you tell them that and say, 'Sure, you're supposed to say that,' " Bryant said. "They don't appreciate their efforts until they get an independent assessment like they do from the judges for this show. Then it's an ah-ha moment for them. After that, you can't keep them out of the art room."

The funny thing is those students' art creations often suddenly go from hanging on the refrigerator to being framed, Bryant said.

The importance of art was reinforced by Jesse Price, community affairs manager for Caterpillar Inc.'s U.S. Operations Division, who told the families present Saturday that his involvement with the 2008 showcase allowed him to see the enormous amount of young talent in the community.

"It got me thinking of the kinds of opportunities available to you if you go on in your younger years to develop your creative potential," Price said. "Business and industry are looking for people who are creative and find innovative ways of doing things. It's an important talent to cultivate."

Britta Braden, 11, a fifth-grade student at Garfield Montessori School, dubbed her drawing of a pumpkin on a table "Halloween Night" It earned her a red ribbon. She said she created the drawing at home and submitted it.

Her grandmother, Patricia Cox, said she got Britta interested in art, which led to private lessons.

Many of the showcase submissions were art class projects at area schools.

Reedler Ripple, 14, an eighth-grade student at Meridian Middle School won a blue ribbon with his color drawing of the school district's mascot, a hawk. The son of Todd and Shellie Ripple of Blue Mound, he said he won another blue ribbon in the showcase two years ago and would like to have a career in graphic design.

The showcase was divided into works by fifth- and sixth-grade students and seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Best of show winners were Rebecca Chumbley, 11, daughter of Denny and Angie Chumbley of Harristown and a sixth-grade student at Sangamon Valley Middle School, and Madeline Friesner, 13, daughter of Chet and Jodi Friesner of Decatur and an eighth-grade student at Meridian Middle School.

Rebecca said her drawing was of Gerard Way, front man of her favorite band, My Chemical Romance, which she did from a photo she took of a poster of the band. She said while she had been drawing since she was very young, her top finish in the showcase likely will motivate her to create more art.

Madeline said her best of show was the first time she had ever received recognition for her art. Her winning creation was a mixed media American plains Indian mask.

"I've never been in a contest before. and I just wanted to do it," Madeline said of entering. "I've got a strong interest in art."

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