State Librarian Leesa Aiken, David O’Reilly, Jessica O’Reilly, Sarah O’Reilly and Whitesides art teacher Jennifer Goodall hold Sarah O'Reilly’s two awards at the Talking Book Services Student Art Awards Ceremony April 27.
Sarah O'Reilly, a kindergarten student at Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School, won first place for her age group (ages 6 to 10) in the Talking Book Services Student Art Gallery Contest and the highest honor of the program among all age groups, the State Librarian Award, from the South Carolina State Library.
As the State Librarian Award winner, her work, Coastal Flounder, will be in the permanent collection at the State Library.
The Talking Book Services Student Art Gallery is a yearly competition open to South Carolina students who are blind or visually impaired. Winners are selected in three age groups in addition to the State Librarian Award.
Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary kindergarten student Sarah O’Reilly creates her winning ceramic piece using objects she found in the classroom to make her textural art, "Coastal Flounder."
O’Reilly worked on the ceramic project with Whitesides art teacher Jennifer Goodall, who submitted the project. O’Reilly created the piece using found objects for texture and glazed it with a crystal glaze giving it a unique appearance.
“I am grateful that our State Library encourages and celebrates art created by students who are blind or visually impaired,” said Goodall. “Sarah's Coastal Flounder is a fantastic example of surpassing limitations to enjoy and experience the powerful process of creating.”
O’Reilly and her parents received the award at a ceremony and reception at the South Carolina State Library on April 27.
“We are so proud of Sarah,” said Principal Michelle Conner. “Her light shines bright in our school. She is always smiling, and her positivity is contagious. We are grateful for our art teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Goodall, and for the South Carolina State Library, for providing the opportunity for Sarah to participate in this contest and receive this award.”
Twenty-two schools and 57 students submitted artwork for the contest this year.
Talking Book Services is a free library service from the State Library for anyone who has a visual, physical, or print disability that prevents them from holding or reading normal print books. This free library program brings reading materials in digital audio and braille formats to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to centenarians.
