The National Art Education Association (NAEA) selected an Eastlake High School art teacher’s artwork to be featured in a virtual art exhibit featuring artists from across the country and around the globe.
Claudia Castañeda’s artwork was among 95 pieces selected for the exhibit out of 546 submissions. Her art piece, which was created with watercolors, Sharpies, and charcoal, was a depiction of her son and his expansive curiosity and imagination. Click here to see her artwork.
"I'm happy that the artwork where I incorporated a portrait of my 13-year-old son is on display in the NAEA virtual art gallery for a large audience of art educators and artists to view," Castañeda said.
The art pieces for the exhibit were selected by a juror panel, which reviewed submissions based on originality and uniqueness, clarity and meaning, innovation and creativity, material usage and medium application, and quality and craftsmanship.
The annual NAEA Member Exhibition showcases artwork created by NAEA's vibrant professional community of visual arts educators, highlighting the artistic skill and vision of members worldwide.
Castañeda joined the NAEA this past August and said being recognized was a great way to start her membership with the organization.
"Receiving this news in December was quite a surprise and an honor for sure," Castañeda said.
The NAEA is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts educators. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to be art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 57,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society.
The virtual exhibition will run through May 3 on the NAEA's website at https://www.arteducators.org/community/articles/1250-2023-naea-member-exhibit