Alexandria Quarterly presents The Carolyn Hall Young Emerging Artists & Writers Award

Carolyn Hall Young has been called a "painter's painter.” Her small, potent works resonate a vivid awareness of color and beauty, revealing surprising emotional content. The carefully rendered images offer a glimpse into the inexhaustible resilience of an inspired world. Warm and welcoming, they call for the viewer to linger a little longer, to savor the lusciousness, and to be "present.” These works are reminiscent of an era when "Art Took Time,” and we each had a sense of belonging: and yet, they are remarkably contemporary.

Carolyn Hall Young, beloved wife, artist, mentor, horsewoman, and inspiration to friends and admirers around the globe passed from the earth on December 23, 2016. To quote Carolyn, "If any of you are around long enough to write my obit, I'd like you to mention that I was an excitable girl, and that I had a full and brave heart."

Carolyn lived each day with joy and love, counseling other cancer patients and, even after she was bedridden, continued to create. Using her iPad in her final years, she created more than 1600 paintings for friends around the world.  Love Wins! The Carolyn Hall Young Memorial Fund has been established to support cancer patients.

Alexandria Quarterly is honored to name the annual Emerging Artists & Writers Award after this beautiful artist and spirit. To learn more about Carolyn, visit carolynhallyoung.com. 

 

The recipient of the 2017 award is Katherine Liu from Illinois.
Katherine received a monetary award of $200, made possible by a portion of submission fees and by the generosity of all who donated to the 2017 Spring fundraiser.

This year, we were also able to name a finalist. Yew San Cheah from Hong Kong will receive a $100 prize. His work can be found here: http://www.alexandriaquarterlymag.com/emerging-artists-writers-yew-san-cheah/?rq=yew%20san%20cheah

Congratulations to Katherine and Yew San and a big thank you to all those who submitted. All of the young artists and writers sent work that was a testament to their talent and dedication and we're honored to receive it.

Alexandria Quarterly’s Emerging Artists & Writers series was created to promote the work of young makers-of-wonder (ages 13 to 17) who are discovering their voice and developing their craft. The idea is to highlight their talent and insight and to hopefully inspire a continued engagement with the arts.

The Emerging Artists & Writers Award will be given annually to one series contributor to use in whatever way they feel best serves their craft--whether it's to help him/her pay for art supplies, take a class or a workshop, go to plays and performances, or put it back into his/her own community for art and writing programs. The recipient will be chosen by the editors and announced in June.

If you would like to donate to the fund, you can do so at the top of this page and we'll send you a little gift as our way of saying thank you for your support! Below is a list of our past winners.

Congratulations to the 2016 Alexandria Quarterly Emerging Artists & Writers Award Recipient: Farah Ghafoor!

Farah Ghafoor is a fifteen-year-old poet and a founding editor at Sugar Rascals, an online teen literary magazine. She believes that she deserves a cat and/or outrageously expensive perfumes, and can’t bring herself to spend pretty coins. Her work is published in places like alien mouth, Really System and Synaesthesia, and has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Farah is the 2016 recipient of the Alexandria Quarterly Emerging Artists and Writers Award.

Find her online at fghafoor.tumblr.com.

And read her work in AQ here!

Congratulations to Djuna Carlton!
 2015 Alexandria Quarterly Emerging Artists & Writers Award Recipient

Djuna Carlton was born and raised in Northern New Mexico. She owes her creativity to her family and friends. Now a senior in high school, she draws and writes avidly. Art has always been a deciding factor in her life and will continue to guide it throughout. 

To see Djuna's work, click here.