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Harrison Elementary second grade student Steven Black may be the next Monet, Van Gogh or Renoir.
Black is the only Warsaw finalist in the 48th Annual Symphony in Color. Nearly 733 entries from 129 schools representing 32 counties in Indiana were received for the competition. Winning pieces are exhibited in the Clowes Pavilion of the Indianapolis Museum of Art from March 30 to April 30.
"I'm just proud of him. He's been crazy about art since he was little, 1 or 2," said his mother, Renee Black.
Janet Lantz, Steven's art teacher at Harrison, said the competition was sponsored by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In October, Lantz told the ISO that Harrison students would like to participate in the competition. Lantz received a tape containing five selected songs by the ISO. Lantz then picked the song "Circus Polka" by Stravinsky, performed by ISO, for students to use as their inspiration.
"(Steven) drew a picture to reflect what he saw when he heard the music," she said.
The entire school participated. Lantz selected six students as finalists. One of them was Steven.
All six pictures went to Indianapolis, and Steven's was the only one to make the final cut.
When Steven found out he was named a finalist, Renee said, "He was just thrilled, jumping up and down the stairs."
She said winning the award will help motivate Steven and said her son is very imaginative.
"Music and art are his two favorite things. It's a perfect award for him," said Renee.
Renee will take Steven to see his art the first week of April.
Asked to describe his oil pastel painting, Steven said, "It's like a dragon and it's singing opera. It's a funny picture. The color of the dragon is green."
He said there is not much in the background. The dragon is holding a microphone and it's his best picture so far, he said.
His reaction when he discovered he won?
"I was running around my house and screaming, 'I won! I won!'" he said.
It was the first time he ever won an art contest. He said he likes art and music and hopes to win another art contest.
"I think I like drawing funny pictures so I'll probably be a cartoon artist," Steven said about what he wants to be when he grows up.
As for his hobbies, Steven said, "I like to draw and watch TV, watch the movie "The Mask." I like the kind of movies with Jim Carrey in it."
He also enjoys doing what other children his age do -Êplaying with his friends. His favorite type of music is rap, but he said he doesn't have a particular favorite musician. His favorite artist is Monet.
