Last night, the Maryland Judiciary recognized seven Baltimore City public school students with college scholarships totaling $21,250 as part of the sixth annual Courting Art Baltimore competition. Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera and other judiciary members addressed the contestants virtually. The competition invited students to submit paintings, drawings, or other two-dimensional works based on the theme "Baltimore Rising."
"I commend these young artists for taking the risk of submitting their art to a competition that involves not only talent but a theme of social justice," said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera. "These pieces of art will provide a new perspective for members of the public."
The winning artwork will be displayed long-term in the Eastside District courthouse. Besides scholarships, each of the 26 finalists received a $50 gift card, and two were awarded placements in the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Young People’s Studio for weekend art classes.
"Their achievements, whether selected or not, are important because art is in and of itself imperative to our society," said District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey. "In a courthouse and in a courtroom, these positive aspects of art can have a true impact on those who use the spaces."
Courting Art Baltimore began in 2015 as an art contest open to all Baltimore City public high school students. It is presented by the District Court in Baltimore City alongside partners like the Baltimore Bar Foundation, Inc., and BABC. The program collaborates with organizations such as Baltimore City Community College and Arts Every Day.
"At the suggestion of someone involved in Courting Art, I brought the program to Baltimore and, with the help of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, we created Courting Art Baltimore with a focus on providing post-high school scholarships to our public school students," said Baltimore City District Court Judge Halee F. Weinstein.
Stephanie Toro-Toruno from Baltimore Design School won the top prize with a $7,500 scholarship and one full-tuition scholarship to MICA's Summer Pre-College program.