Award-Winning art on exhibit at Gallery 2125.  Opening Reception: February 24, 5:30-8:30pm.

Lakeland, Florida, February 22, 2012— The award-winning artworks from the Platform.5 Youth & Art event and juried art competition held Saturday, February 18 at Oasis Community Church will be on exhibit in Gallery 2125 from February 24 through May.  The public is invited to view the exhibit in Gallery 2125 during business hours, phone (863) 646-2125.

The award-winners will be recognized during the opening reception on February 24 from 5:30-8:30pm at Gallery 2125 located in Lakeland Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, Florida.  The Guitar Ensemble from Harrison School for the Arts will perform during the reception.  Light refreshments will be served.  Admission is free and open to the public.

Platform.5 Youth & Arts is a program of Platform Art, Inc.  Through this program, Platform Art supports the early efforts of young students and encourages students to continue to pursue art throughout their school career.  The Lakeland Sister Cities International Art Competition award-winning artworks, juried during the Platform.5 event, will also be on exhibit.  This year’s award-winning artists are—

Platform.5 Youth & Art Awards

High School
1st Tianna Harvey – Harrison School for the Arts
2nd Stevie Pniewski – Harrison School for the Arts
3rd Randy Lopez – Harrison School for the Arts

Middle School
1st Nguyen Vu – Mulberry Middle School
2nd Paula de la Torre – Mulberry Middle School
3rd Marybeth Crispin – Mulberry Middle School

Elementary School
1st Caroline Pabrinni – Lincoln Avenue Academy
2nd Chloe Lanham – Wendall Watson Elementary
3rd Brandon Yang – Pinewood Elementary

Lakeland Sister Cities International Awards

1st Veronica Barger – Harrison School for the Arts
2nd Gabriela Molleda – Harrison School for the Arts
3rd Anna Ponchak – Harrison School for the Arts

People’s Choice Awards

Visual Art
1st Place – Sara Jones – Lakeland High School
2nd Place – Sydney Hamilton – Wendell Watson
3rd Place – Chloe Jackson – Spessard L. Holland Elementary

Performance
Florida Dance Theatre Academy Youth Ensemble & Geneva Classical Academy – Small World Project

Visit www.platformart.org for information on the Platform.5 Youth & Art program and Platform Art.

###

About Platform Art
Platform Art, Inc., a non-profit arts organization, is a community-conscious collaboration of artisans and art lovers whose ultimate goal is to showcase new and exciting talent in the fields of visual arts, film, fashion, music and performance.

About Platform.5
Platform.5 Youth & Art is a program of Platform Art.  It is an annual program that showcases the artistic accomplishments of students in the visual arts, short film, fashion, sound and performance. The program features work by students in grades 1-12.  The program is made possible with the help of many collaborators, including the Junior Women’s Club of Lakeland, Explorations V Children’s Museum, Polk County public, private and charter schools, other community arts organizations and sponsors.  Platform.5 program supports the early efforts of young students and encourages students to continue to pursue art throughout their school careers.  Admission is FREE to all students.

This year’s theme, Platform.5 Youth & Art Event Theme was “It’s A Small World,” an expansion of the Sister Cities International art competition theme, “Youth as the Catalyst for Change.”  Students were encouraged to use artwork to express how communication, technology, and individual initiative can lead to dramatic social change.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Haffey at cynthia@platformart.org, phone (863) 838-2262 or learn more by visiting www.platformart.org.