THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502150183
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
SANDWICHED BETWEEN paintings of pained expressions, twisted limbs and tortured souls is a lovely, colorful weaving by Emma Esmaili - lovely enough to net first prize in the Exhibit of Excellence.
The exhibition, involving works of high school art students, continues through Feb. 26 at the Suffolk Museum.
Emma, a Nansemond-Suffolk Academy junior, entered the first weaving she ever did, a piece she began in December 1993, and completed last June.
``I worked on it off and on,'' she said. ``It's about unity - everything flows together.''
Emma is more familiar with paintings, noting that weaving ``is more time consuming.''
One of her paintings, resembling the peak of an old tree, is also on display at the museum.
The prize-winning artist is the daughter of medical professionals.
Her mother, Dr. Haydeh Esmaili, owns the Suffolk Psychiatric Group. Her father, Dr. Hossain Esmaili, is an anesthesiologist at Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin. The family lives on King's Fork Road in Suffolk.
Emma will go to college, but has not yet decided which one she will attend. When she does, she will most likely get involved with another love - sports. At N-SA she plays field hockey and soccer.
A pencil sketch of a little girl netted Emily a best-in-show at a competition at school in 1993.
The young artist also spends a lot of time writing poetry but, she says, ``painting is easier than artwork, as far as expressing yourself.''
The items on display in the museum were selected by juror, James Warwick Jones, executive director of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News.
``As an artist myself, I understand both the excitement of having work selected for a juried competition, or winning an award,'' he said, adding that he also understands ``the disappointment of not having a piece selected.''
This year 76 students entered 228 works of art. Jones chose 74 for display and selected eight award winners representing Lakeland High School and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
The others are:
Second prize - Amber Jo Daniels, a Lakeland High School junior, for an untitled oil pastel.
Third prize - Tricia Harris, a Lakeland senior, for a pencil drawing called ``Confusion.''
Honorable mentions are Jonathan Carey, Lakeland; Geraint Krumpe, Nansemond-Suffolk; Qua E. Rogers, Lakeland; Lawrence Tracker, Nansemond-Suffolk and Sabrina Marie Thornton, Lakeland.
Many of the offerings express feelings about the darkness so prevalent in the world - skulls, twisted limbs, a montage illustrating violence among other items.
``The artists are learning to use art as a vehicle for expression,'' said Lisa Mizelle, museum coordinator. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Emma Esmaili, a Nansemond-Suffolk Academy junior, entered the first
weaving she has ever done in the Exhibit of Excellence for high
school art students, and it won first place.
by CNB