CHENANGO COUNTY – Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Francis K. Wilcox Scholarship for Emerging Young Artist Awards. This years’ winners are Emily Redfield, a senior at Oxford Academy High School, and Riley Webster, a sophomore at Sherburne-Earlville High School.
Redfield also recently received first place at an Oxford Academy High School art show held at 6 On the Square in Oxford. Her favorite mediums include acrylic paints, oils, and drawing with India ink.
“I like to think my newfound love for art and my artistic skills have developed just as I have as a person,” said Redfield. “Everything I have accomplished within the art world I have to thank Joni Eaton for [Eaton is a high school art teacher at Oxford Academy High School]. She has given me so much confidence and encouragement.” After graduation, Emily hopes to study philosophy and journalism at SUNY Oswego.
Webster has already earned an array of art awards, including best in show at the 2016 Sherburne Arts Festival, a first in painting, and a first in sculpture. He also won first place in drawing and third in painting at Colorscape’s 2015 Student Art Exhibit.
“My process in how I make my art is still partially unknown to me, because I am still trying to figure it out myself,” Webster wrote. “My process for whatever I am doing is tailored to each piece but, I have noticed that the pieces I make tend to develop a personality and you have to work with that and the space I work in affects my art as well. Color, it is truly my favorite aspect of art; it sets the tone of the piece and defines it. Color I believe is the soul of a work. Color in my opinion is what gives soul to art, breathing life into it, and it reflects my emotions and soul in a way words cannot.”
He credits his grandfather, artist Bruce Webster, as his main artistic influence. The elder Webster has also exhibited and judged at Colorscape and, said Riley, isn’t afraid to criticize his work in a constructive way. “My Grandfather has throughout my entire life been the one who has ceaselessly been pushing and encouraging me to explore and supporting me every step of the way.”
Webster hopes to go into art conservation and restoration, “breathing new life into great works of art.”
Both Emily and Riley will be showing their artwork at Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival in downtown Norwich, Sept. 10 and 11. Each artist will receive a $350 award plus a $100 Golden Artist Colors gift certificate.
Stefan Foster, one of last year’s Emerging Young Artist winners, will also be exhibiting at Colorscape as a regular artist this year.
Every weekend after Labor Day, the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival fills two adjacent downtown parks in Norwich, NY, with an exhibition- and activity-rich celebration of the arts.  It’s an event with many layers: visitors of all ages experience juried art and fine crafts by 125 artists, literary arts including a competitive Poetry Slam, arts programming designed for kids and families, free art-making stations for both youth and adults, students and elder art exhibition opportunities, dance, puppetry, drumming, artist demonstrations, creative vending, and a rich variety of music, including national recording artists on three stages. Admission to the event is always free and goes on regardless of rain or shine. For more information, visit www.colorscape.org.