Pagliarulo Receives a Silver Key in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Post date: Apr 05, 2013 3:53:51 PM

Wells High School Junior Madilin “Maddy” Pagliarulo is the recipient of a Silver Key award in the Digital Media category of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for 2013.

Pagliarulo’s winning entry, the result of an assignment in AP Studio Art class, is an example of an ancient Oriental, Hindu and Buddhist visual art form known as mandala, a duplication of a manipulated image multiple times with the resulting duplicates formed into a geometric (often circular) design. Mandalas often feature a deity and symbolize the cosmos.

“It is an excellent work, a beautiful piece nicely balanced with the color scheme,” said Pagliarulo’s Art teacher Vanessa White-Capelluti who was impressed with the neutrality, warm colors and texture of the final image.

Pagliarulo’s image began as a digital photograph of a large inactive wasp hive located at the front of her family’s home. Before the original photo had been taken, the wasp hive had been sprayed with pesticide by Pagliarulo’s father leaving the remaining wasps in and around the hive with the appearance of being frozen in time.

A section was cut from the original picture then manipulated into an image that was duplicated many times and formed into a circle for the end result.

Pagliarulo, a second year AP Studio Art student, indicated that she wants to continue creating visual art including illustrations, drawings and body tattooing.

Silver Key and Gold Key are placement levels in the regional portion of the Scholastic Art & Writing contest which is open to 7^th through 12^th grade students.

Maddy Pagliarulo is the daughter of Susan and Daniel Pagliarulo of Wells.

Caption: Maddy Pagliarulo with her Silver Key winning entry.