Mansfield, OH (April 10, 2025) – Artapolooza 2025 took place on April 4-9 at Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, with over 3000 students exhibiting art. Eighteen local school districts participated in this year’s event, including Abraxas School, Bucyrus City Schools, Clear Fork Valley Local Schools, Crestline Exempted Village Schools, Crestline St. Joseph School, Crestview Local Schools, Foundation Academy, Galion City Schools, GOAL Digital Academy, Highland Local Schools, Lexington Local Schools, Lucas Local Schools, Madison Local Schools, Mansfield City Schools, Mansfield Christian School, Mt. Gilead Local Schools, Northmor Local Schools and Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools.
Addison Langston from Mansfield Senior High School took Best of Show with her large-scale, blue portrait. “Addison has a tremendous talent for capturing expression and feeling in her work,” stated Jennifer Pennell, Gifted Education Consultant and coordinator of this event.
Crestview art teachers Destini Ohler and Erin Dendinger earned recognition for Best Display.
Also rounding out the top awards for the high school division were Hannah Nolan, Mansfield City Schools- 1st place; Genevieve Smith, Galion City Schools- 2nd place; and Georgia Gantz, Highland Local Schools- 3rd place. Middle School awards include Madalyn R., Lexington Local Schools - 1st Place; Gavin Goldsmith, Galion City Schools - 2nd place; and Kayleen Jennings, GOAL Digital Academy - 3rd place.
An award that had been given in the past was revived again for this year, The Rising Star Award. This award was given to Chloe Wetzel from Crestview High School, recognizing a student whose work shows exceptional talent and promise of a possible future career in art. The award consists of a selection of art supplies to encourage them to keep pursuing their dreams.
In addition to these awards, we gave out 42 Budding Artist Award certificates to elementary students showing great potential as young artists, 43 Outstanding Artist Award certificates and 30 Honorable Mention medals. For a complete list of award recipients, go to Mid-Ohio ESC’s website at www.moesc.net.
To encourage public art and elevate local artists, the Mansfield Public Art Commission has joined efforts with the Mansfield Richland County Public Library to design a new art gallery space for public exhibitions.
This year's top award winners at Artapolooza were invited to exhibit their winning artwork at “The Mayor’s Show: Rising Artists of Mid-Ohio.” This gallery exhibition will be displayed in the second-floor lobby in the Mansfield Richland County Public Main Library from May 1–23. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the exhibit in the Main Library, located at 43 W. 3rd Street, Mansfield. |