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A digital photograph by freshman Jordan Taormina was also recognized by the Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. His piece, “New Perspectives,” placed in the top 15% of regional submissions. (Photo courtesy of Leetonia Schools Facebook page)
“My goal with this project was an attempt to portray my emotions through photography. I wanted to take what I feel and make it visible to those who will see them. I used symbolic inorganic objects, as well as open empty spaces to show isolation,’ she said. “I also put in effort to specifically show anxiety, depression, and mild distress. I did this by using dark and gloomy lighting, and other effects, to portray such emotions.”
Her artwork, a series of photographs, shared the same name as the emotion she set out to capture. “Isolation” was one of 8,000 high school artworks that were submitted for consideration for the 54th Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. Dagny’s work was among 25 pieces chosen to be displayed in the Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office in Columbus during the month of May as part of the governor’s Cameo Show, considered among the top 0.08% of all the submitted student pieces.
The work that earned Smith a spot in the Cameo Show came from the last assignment of the semester class where students had the creative freedom to complete their assignment by producing whatever motivates and inspires them. Smith said she was interested in and inspired by the surrealism unit she learned in another class and decided to incorporate surrealism into her photography project.
Fellow Leetonia student and artist, Jordan Taormina was also recognized by the Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. Out of 300 regional student artworks, Taormina placed in the top 15% with a photo he called “New Perspectives”. While Smith’s work focused on self-reflection, Taormina’s digital photograph focused on innovation and seeing objects in a different way.
“For one of our photo assignments, I was looking for an interesting perspective to frame my subject matter. Looking around the house, I found a plastic water bottle. Using the bottle as the frame, it provided a focal point of the flowers in the distance,” he explained. “The bottle also provided a reflection of the water droplets and flowers which created a more visually interesting photograph.”
Smith too stood out on the regional level when Another one her pieces — ‘Shrouded” — placed. Smith also recently won Best in Show (High School Division) at the Columbiana County Educational Service Center 2024 Student Art Show at the end of February. She plans on continuing her art studies but also has a passion for film editing, which she is considering as a career path after college. She has a passion for all forms, but her favorite is within the digital art sphere.
Smith’s work along with the other winning artists statewide, there will be a special ceremony at noon on April 21st and the exhibition will be on display through May 16th at the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus.
“Clearly, Dagny is a force to be reckoned with in the arts,’ said Leetonia art teacher Kaitlyn Culp Morris, “Here at Leetonia, we are so proud of her and this amazing accomplishment. We are excited to see what is yet to come from this talented young artist.”
Leetonia Exempted Village School District Superintendent Dennis Dunham echoed those sentiments.
“Dagny is obviously a talented young lady and Jordan is a talented young man,” he said. “I am very proud of both. Congrats to those kids.”
selverd@mojonews.com
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