2025 MAEA Recognitions Exhibit

Organization or School Affiliation: Athol High School

Student Name: Peace Osoro
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: In this composition I used acrylic paint, gouache, and oil pastels. My emotional response to colors and symbols helped me unpack my feelings; frustration, hurt and self love concerning the cycle of abuse. Pink hearts, a red question mark, a yellow star and a blue spiky bow are symbols representing individuality, choice, peace and safety. I created a space for a pretty dream in the midst of chaos.
Teacher: Eleonora Halstead

Organization or School Affiliation: Athol High School

Student Name: Sean Kelley
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I created this piece to visually express the constraints within our current healthcare system. Healthcare workers are often prevented from fulfilling their potential, symbolized by the chains binding the figure's wing. It’s not necessarily about what I intended but rather what the viewer takes from the piece. If someone finds personal meaning or solace in my work, I'm grateful for that connection.
Teacher: Eleonora Halstead

Organization or School Affiliation: Athol High School

Student Name: Josianna Flood
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I created this still-life painting to represent what I see but also to capture what I experience in the moment. I chose to paint the glass bottle and flowers in the foreground as well as less recognizable objects in the middle and background. In making this painting I was present and in the moment, and this is when I can breathe. My free flowing use of color and form grounds me in my breath.
Teacher: Eleonora Halstead

Organization or School Affiliation: Athol High School

Student Name: Corina Thibault
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This drawing and collage showcases a child's dream where tiles are gradually piecing together to form another space. It depicts a child making their way through life and into adulthood slowly. This work is about stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. I used markers and pens to illustrate the hallway and walls. I glued parts of decor onto the piece giving it a more homey feel.
Teacher: Eleonora Halstead

Organization or School Affiliation: Franklin High School

Student Name: Jessica Crisileo
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: Grandma’s Harvest is inspired by “ugly jugs,” shaped into a pumpkin with a lid showcasing a Grandma’s face with wrinkles, a soft smile, and plump cheeks evoking the charm of age and imperfection. The glazing features vibrant oranges creating depth, pinks for warmth, browns for an aging stump, and green for the vine, all of which celebrates the beauty of age as well as nature’s richness.
Teacher: Brenna Johnson

Organization or School Affiliation: Burlington High School

Student Name: Emilly Madeira
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: "Ephemeral Bonds," a ceramic sculpture of four textured spheres, honors cherished moments with my sister in Brazil. Imprinted with the patterns of her rings, the spheres embody our connection, transcending distance. This artwork reflects shared memories, love, and resilience, serving as a tactile reminder of sisterhood and the enduring bonds that bridge separation.
Teacher: Mojdeh Kazem

Organization or School Affiliation: Burlington High School

Student Name: Anastasiia Zhovnerenko
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: In Every Face This snow-white glazed face, devoid of distinct features, symbolizes the universal nature of identity. Its neutral form invites viewers to see themselves in the work, reflecting on identity as both personal and collective. By stripping away markers, it emphasizes shared humanity and the common search for meaning and connection beyond external appearances.
Teacher: Mojdeh Kazem

Organization or School Affiliation: Burlington High School

Student Name: Patience Namugera
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: Triple Scoop Delight is a ceramic vase of three stacked scoops, exploring the vibrant nostalgia of food in pop culture. Bold red, pink, and chocolate glazes embody sweetness, while Pop Art influences highlight everyday objects. The piece connects food to identity, memory, and culture, offering a playful tribute to shared delight and community.
Teacher: Mojdeh Kazem

Organization or School Affiliation: Burlington High School

Student Name: Boris Belin
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: This vase explores how materials transform over time. Using iron oxide glaze, I embraced the unpredictable firing process, where heat and time create unexpected results. Inspired by Japanese design and nature, the carved patterns reflect organic forms. The glaze’s earthy tones highlight the beauty of change, showing how materials, like people, evolve in unique ways.
Teacher: Mojdeh Kazem

Organization or School Affiliation: Burlington High School

Student Name: Nyasha Mlilwana
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This sculpture reflects my South African heritage and the rhino’s cultural significance as part of the Big Five. I aimed to capture its strength, vulnerability, and connection to its habitat. The blue base represents water, essential for its survival, while textured details and earthy glazes bring it to life. This piece raises awareness of the rhino’s endangered status and shares my culture.
Teacher: Mojdeh Kazem

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Ellison Fosberry
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: In this piece I used watercolor to create a cool toned scene of a snowy winter forest. I made this piece because I wanted to practice my understanding of color and unwittingly made a piece showcasing the path of snow falling.
Teacher: Rebecca Kostich

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Hannah Egan
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece implements stylistic choices influenced by artist Bianca Berends' impressionistic work and her technique of editing portraits over digital photos. I decided to use oil pastels to depict myself as a child holding a doll. I then edited a cutout of this drawing onto a photo of a mock bedroom I created. It was made with recycled materials and objects that have significance to my life.
Teacher: Rebecca Kostich

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Ben Glanville
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: I took this picture of two athletes after their race from the finish line using my Canon Rebel T8i. Using an online digital editing software, I combined multiple black-and-white presets that recreate black-and-white film roll styles. I also specifically darkened the highlights of the image in certain areas such as the sky. This gave the image a darker, softer, and more moody look.
Teacher: Rebecca Kostich

Organization or School Affiliation: Groton-Dunstable Regional High School

Student Name: Dallin Yates
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: This piece is a self portrait in a polygonal style. I created this piece digitally by starting with a picture I took of myself. I then used Affinity Designer to trace out polygonal shapes. I started by blocking out the main sections of color and then added more detail in areas such as the eyes. I did this because I wanted to make something that was more of an art piece that was personal to me.
Teacher: Rebecca Kostich

Organization or School Affiliation: Wayland High School

Student Name: Jahdaya Franklin
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece emphasizes how society receives our hair. Strangers stop, fingers hovering without permission, offering unsolicited advice. “You should straighten it,” some say, as though natural texture is a problem to solve. It’s about seeing hair as resilience, beauty, and a history of strength- not as a mess but as a crown.
Teacher: Veronique Latimer

Organization or School Affiliation: Pembroke High School

Student Name: Abigail Peterson
Grade: Grade 11
Artist Statement: This photo captures one of my favorite moments at the local fair: the demolition derby. I’m drawn to the contrasting colors of the cars, flashing lights, and energetic music, all within the lively fair atmosphere. Intrigued by the event’s beauty and destruction, I captured many photos. Editing photo #103, I highlighted the aggressive energy and excitement of the moment.
Teacher: Jessica Lazarus

Organization or School Affiliation: Pembroke High School

Student Name: Braeden Small
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: Using Maya Autodesk, I recreated the atrium of my high school, Pembroke High. This space holds fond memories for students, where we “people-watch,” attend art shows, and listen to concerts. It also has historical significance for my mother, who attended the school in its early years. Through this 3D model, I aim to preserve the building’s history and capture shared memories for future generations.
Teacher: Jessica Lazarus

Organization or School Affiliation: Pembroke High School

Student Name: O Drake
Grade: Grade 10
Artist Statement: This piece uses a life preserver to symbolize humanity’s procrastination on climate change. Outside it, a dark, stormy world reflects the damage we’ve caused, while inside, the sea is vibrant, symbolizing what we still have to protect. Labeled "Emergency Use Only," the piece urges immediate action before it’s too late, highlighting the urgency of tackling climate change now.
Teacher: Jessica Lazarus

Organization or School Affiliation: Pembroke High School

Student Name: Kathryn Taylor
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: During my trip to Alaska, I photographed bears, observing their protective, playful behavior, which reminded me of childhood memories. I captured these bonds of love, trust, and support, showing how similar connections exist in both animals and humans. My work celebrates the universal importance of relationships, highlighting the compassion and mutual care shared across species.
Teacher: Jessica Lazarus

Organization or School Affiliation: Norwood High School

Student Name: Zander Allan
Grade: Grade 12
Artist Statement: This piece is about how physical pain can affect someone. This character has gotten hurt via his left arm which is concealed. They turn to alcohol in order to “cope” with the pain of loneliness and injuries in an empty, dark bar. The focus was mainly on the atmosphere and the world building to show how truly alone Wyatt (the character depicted) is.
Teacher: Saquora Lowe-McLaurin