52nd Annual Volusia Students Create
February 6 - March 10, 2024
Presented by Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Volusia County Schools Visual Art Department
About the Exhibition
Every spring, Volusia Students Create showcases adjudicated artwork created by students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens is proud to host the 2024 exhibition, which includes over 140 artworks from 50 public schools throughout Volusia County.
![](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/f7049da3-d432-4b19-bec3-9fea822644fd.jpg)
About this Year's Judge: Karlene McConnell
Karlene McConnell is a professional artist living in Ormond Beach, Florida. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education from the University of Central Florida. She is a former Volusia County art teacher and former art educator and curator for Ormond Memorial Art Museum.
Karlene’s art has been exhibited in solo and group shows from New England to the Miami art fairs. Her work is found in several corporate and private collections including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY and the permanent Lemerand Collection at Daytona State College, FL. She currently works with acrylic paints and various drawing tools to convey her perceptions of nature through gestural paintings. It has been said that these pieces serve as a bridge between the expectations of realism and the freedom of abstract expressionism.
Award Winners
![](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/55e0eeef-ff09-4ee4-99b9-078e40fe8960.jpg)
Dorothy Johnson Award: Sam Brown
Confidence, oil on canvas
DeLand High School, 11th Grade – Mr. Carson
ARTIST STATEMENT: My artwork is about portraying women as strong, independent, and confident. While made to be aesthetically pleasing, my work also shows expressions that bring emotion to the artwork. What really inspires me to create these pieces is the feeling of completion when I see the finished product. My art class and art projects give me a break from other subjects, helping me to relax and focus.