MOSCOW — For the second year in a row, an art student from Kellogg High School (KHS) has walked away from the University of Idaho High School Art Exhibition with the Best in Show title.

This year’s winner is Allysen Hei for her piece, “Left Side, Right Side.”

In addition to receiving the prestigious Best in Show title, Hei also received a $1,000 scholarship to the University’s College of Arts and Architecture program, plus a $150 gift certificate.

This annual art competition held in Moscow at the UI campus is in its 26 year and invites high school art students from all over the state (including larger North Idaho Schools such as Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls) to compete and show off their creative abilities.

This year’s theme was a simple statement, “visualizing science.”

Head of the Art and Design program, Sally Machlis, explained the meaning of theme.

“An artistic interpretation of science opens the door for a greater understanding of important — and often complicated — issues that impact our world,” Machlis said.

“Engaging students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines through the arts opens up the possibility of an education to a wide range of students who might not otherwise be interested. The energy that takes place when these two disciplines work together is exciting and palpable.”

The theme corresponds with an interdisciplinary grant project of the same name, where UI scientists, artists, and designers worked together to visually interpret scientific research.

Kellogg art teacher Rachel Krusemark is incredibly proud of Hei and all of the hard work she put into this piece.

“She worked really hard and painting is her specialty,” Krusemark said.

In addition to painting, Hei included several other unique features in the art piece such as sewed in textures and special glue to create incredible effects.

“She spent a lot of time on it,” Krusemark added.

Hei’s inspiration for the piece, other than the theme, was “bringing a connection between the two sides of the brain.”

This comes from a lesson that Krusemark teaches in her art class, saying that students should use the right (creative) side of their brain when creating art.

Krusemark had 40 of her art students make submissions to the competition this year.

In addition to Hei, Allen Bassemier and his piece “Gazing Beyond the Edge,” Kierra Frick and her piece “Dark Dimension,” and Samantha Manty for her piece “Science Eye,” were given honorable mentions.

The competition was judged by Ali Carr-Chellman, dean of the College of Education; Nishhiki Sugawara Beda, assistant professor of painting; art education students Sabrina Sirani, Skyla Glindeman, and Jacob Oths; and art and design graduate students David Jaansen and David Roon.

Artwork from the exhibition will be displayed in Ridenbaugh Hall on UI’s Moscow campus until Saturday, March 11.

A full list of honorable mentions and participating high schools is available at http://www.uidaho.edu/caa/news/annual-events/high-school-art-exhibit.