Congrats to the 2024 winners and a Huge thanks to all the amazing participants! What amazing ideas and artwork!
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1st PLACE PRIZE $1,000: Vivian – Incarnate Word, “The prodigal son comes to the Father, on his knees and in the filth, to ask for forgiveness with tears. The Father meets him in the dirt, unafraid to soil his expensive clothing, with a reassuring grasp. The son reaches out with an open hand to the Father and accepts the Fathers loving hold.”
2nd PLACE $500: Clint – Sacred Heart, “the prodigal son returning home to his father through the guidance of Jesus. The son, used to being surrounded by animals, it welcomed home by his father with open arms. As the sun sets and ends the day, it also marks the end of the sons lonely poverty all while being supported by Christ.”
Runner Up Prize $200: Gianna – Kapaun Mt. Carmel, “… a weeping woman (prostitute specifically) who is seeking our Lord’s forgiveness for her life of sin. His bleeding hand is tilting her chin up as she gazes upon Him for the first time in a plea for mercy. This piece symbolizes how, no matter what kind of sins you have committed in your life, you can always repent and turn back to the Lord and He will always show you mercy.”
Runner Up Prize $200: Joshua – Orangewood, “The characters represent the characters of the prodigal son story in modern times incorporating images from the biblical text. The son reluctantly returns to the father after falling into sin and addiction, but the father welcomes him with open arms and shines his light upon him.”
Runner Up Prize $200: Brooklyn – Prestonwood, “While reading the Prodigal Son, what stood out to me was how we should always turn to God even in the mist of our own filth. In this chalk pastel, the light represents God’s presence in our life, and the pigs represent all the sin and filth that surrounds and distracts us. Sometimes you might be in the dark and filled with sin, but you can always find a way to the light as it is always there. No matter how many times you go back to the darkness, the Father will always call you home. The son’s gaze is purposefully facing away from the viewer and towards the light. The pigs become spectators to see what the son will do. In making this piece, I am reminded of Zechariah’s prophecy seen in Luke 1:78-79 “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””
1st PLACE PRIZE DIGITAL/AI $100: William – Saint Thomas More, “The Father’s Love”
2nd PLACE DIGITAL/AI $50: Finn – Bishop Blanchet, “the prodigal son returning home. Despite everything that had happened, he was still welcomed back to God will mercy and grace. He is happy to be home, but is a little nervous of what is to come.”
Runner Up Prize DIGITAL/AI $25: William – Lake Country 1 “a man, representative of all of humanity is walking forward, with many paths laid before him. However the fog of the future prevents him from finding the right path, however if we rely on God’s vision, the path to take become clear.”
Runner Up Prize DIGITAL/AI $25: (2 prizes NOT given due to lack of Participation)
Remaining Gallery
Competition Theme:
Capturing the Love of the Father and in a particular way, the moment when God calls the prodigal child (male or female) out of their sin. A man is by a pig sty & stained with filth. He is lifting the pig’s food up to eat but then realizes Jesus has approached walking right through the pig sty toward him offering love, freedom, healing, peace… The prodigal son intentionally drops some of the food with one hand but is unsure whether to stay & eat the rest or leave it behind to follow Jesus. The father (heavenly OR human) seems to have sent Jesus, and can be seen longing for his prodigal son to return. As Jesus walks he steps right into the filth not afraid of it soiling his cloths or feet. Jesus brings heaven right into the midst of the pig sty. The father would weep at his son being in the pig sty and hopes he will return but neither he nor Jesus will force the son to come. They are simply longing with all their hearts for the prodigal son. They are offering an open-handed invitation to the prodigal to freely accept freedom. The prodigal is in a sort of addiction/slavery to his current life which makes it difficult to decide to accept. The Spirit of God is giving the strength to freely make the choice but isn’t coercing.
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