OPA High school SCHOLARSHIP

OLIVIA GREENBERG

Grant High School, 12th Grade

Fading Coral

This hand-built ceramic sculpture reflects the devastating transformation of coral bleaching, capturing the gradual loss of color from left to right. Crafted with the slab building technique, the sculpture features three distinct boxes, each adorned with pinched clay coral structures. The sculpture underwent a low-firing process in an electric kiln, after which I underglaze the coral formations, blending Mayco Underglazes to create a realistic finish. In addition, I added a few brush strokes of Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze in select areas. The sculpture is presented in a handcrafted Bird Eye Maple wood box, filled with white sand, creating a visual representation of the decay and loss of color in these organisms. This depiction is rooted in the scientific process of coral bleaching, also known as ocean acidification, which occurs when ocean temperatures rise as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the coral to expel vital algae, known as zooxanthellae, resulting in the organism tissue turning white. My love for the ocean and concern about the pressing issue of climate change has always been at the core of my artistic expression. My work drives me to spark conversations and inspire action toward positive change.

SOFIA ISAIAS-DAY

Corvallis High School, 12th Grade

La Mezcia del Simbolismo

Ceramics provides an outlet for relieving stress and enriching my life with creativity and art. Each of my pieces are filled with symbolism and history, which requires much research and critical thinking that serves to strengthen my skills in other parts of my education.
This piece was created to explore my intersectional Mexican-Jewish identity. I wanted to mix powerful symbols of the two cultures into one cohesive piece to represent how these cultures have mixed within me. I used a goat skull with a traditional Jewish engraving to represent Judaism, and cempasuchil flowers to show Mexican culture. For this piece I used a variety of pinch pots and slabs which I connected with scratch and attachment method and sculpted. Using a wheel, I threw two tall cylinders, and then pushed them into the shape of a cone while adding pressure to create a horn-like texture. I used a needle tool to engrave the skull and created the flowers by sculpting each petal and then scratching and attaching each one. In the glazing process I used a combination of dipping and painting with high fire reduction glazes, and iron and rutile oxides on the flowers.