News
Art piece gives the gift of patriotism to all
Scott Wagar
05/20/2014
It has been a long time in the making for the Ladies Auxiliary of Bottineau VFW Post 8688, but for the first time in a number of years the auxiliary has a student from their district who is participating in the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Scholarship program.
The artist is Ashleigh Jerde, a Bottineau High School student who is known for her artistic talents.
“Ashleigh is terrific in her art work,” said Dianne Volk, art teacher for grades seven through 12 in the Bottineau School District. “She is a tremendous little artist.”
For Jerde, making the decision to participate in the nationwide art competition was an easy decision for her.
“I really love art and drawing,” Jerde said. “And, my dad is in the guard and that kind of put a personal touch on it for me.”
Her piece, which is titled, “Patriotism Reaches Us All,” has a modern, avant-garde feel to it that catches a person’s eye immediately with its distinct aspect of imagery.
In the forefront of the piece, there are eight hands that hold colorful, patriotic symbolism, while the background is filled with similes of intricate black and white shapes and forms which interlock military composition in mood, tone and texture.
“In my opinion, the most patriotic person or people in our nation are our troops and veterans. With my experience, of having my father in the National Guard, I know it isn’t easy having a soldier or veteran as a family member or friend. Families and friends of our troops have to have courage and stand by their country to support their loved ones, even when it is difficult,” Jerde said.
“In my piece, I used hands to portray the many lives and people that are touched by having a soldier or veteran as a friend or family member. The hands also represent all the people who contribute, and are involved, in the life or a soldier or veteran including the soldier or veteran.
“I used many things and events that I feel are significant to patriotism,” Jerde added. “A Service flag, letters from the frontlines, the Purple Heart, a military funeral, a veteran at the Vietnam Memorial, Rising the flag at Iwo Jima, a fallen comrade and the American Bald Eagle.”
On Wednesday, Estelle Jelleberg, a member of Bottineau’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary 8688, who is in charge of the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Scholarship program in the community, presented Jerde with a patriotic lapel pin and a check of $50 from the local auxiliary group for her participation in the patriotic art contest. Jerde’s piece touched Jelleberg heart and mind.
“I’m overwhelmed to see the spiritual patriotic symbolism so eloquently displayed,” Jelleberg said. “The ideas are original and diplomatic.”
Another Ladies Auxiliary member at the event was Mae Streich, who was proud of Jerde willingness to be part of the auxiliary’s art program.
“It is nice to have a student like Ashleigh who is willing to be part of this program,” Streich said. “And, Ashleigh did a wonderful job with her piece. I really like it.”
The VFW and its Auxiliary sponsor the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Scholarship program, which is a national competition for all students in grades nine through 12 (including home school students) which grant college scholarships to the top winners of the art contest. The winner of the contest receives a $10,000 scholarship, a trip to the Ladies Auxiliary 2014 convention and will have his or her’s art piece appear on the cover of the Ladies Auxiliary magazine and website.
For more information on the Young American Creative Patriotic Art Scholarship, go to https://www.ladiesauxvfw.org/programs-page/scholarships/.