Visual Art students in Ms. Christerson’s and Mrs. Webb’s classes traveled to the KMAC Museum to tour the Scholastic Gold Key Exhibit and participated in a silk-screen workshop. KMAC Education Director Joanna Miller led students in the workshop, where they learned how to create patterns for silkscreen printing, with a focus on textiles. Students sketched ideas for their own designs, cut paper stencils for silk screen printing, and worked in pairs to print their designs on colored paper. Following the workshop, students were led on a guided tour of the museum.
Such a beautiful show and a great opening night for the region’s top teen artists! Five PRP students received top honors with Gold Keys in the annual Scholastic Art Competition. Now through March 1, their work is on exhibit in the third floor gallery at KMAC Museum, Louisville’s premier educational contemporary art museum in historic downtown on Museum Row. From there, student artworks will travel to New York City to be judged in the national 2026 Scholastic Art Competition. Congratulations to all and Best of Luck as your work moves on to national competition!
Students started the New Year with a special project called Planet Earth + Love, from the Dallas-based non-profit organization “29 Pieces.” My classes participated in 29 Pieces: The American Love Project in 2022. The Planet Earth + Love Project is an open call for artwork inspired by nature, which aims to promote balanced, positive relationships between humankind and all living beings. Tolerance, curiosity, and acceptance are pillars on a path to a more peaceful and loving planet Earth.
Students began by selecting a famous quote or song lyric inspired by nature. Then, they created an artwork illustrating the idea inspired by their chosen quote, using the media of their choice. Follow their artwork on Instagram (link below) and stay tuned for our upcoming exhibit at the SW Regional Library during March/April to highlight Youth Art Month and Earth Day 2026.
Students rocked out again this year with the 2025 Crosley Custom Cruiser Contest! Schools from across the country were selected to design custom record players inspired by the power of music and unity. PRP was one of the lucky schools to be invited to participate. Senior Brooklyn Smothers led the charge and created a beautiful artwork to show how “Music Connects Us”. The designs from each region are up for public voting, and the school with the most votes in each region goes on to the final round judged by Crosley. Best of Luck to Brooklyn and her team!
This Fall, student artists discovered the art of needlefelting with Little Loomhouse teaching artist Norma Drish. Needle felting is a craft that uses specially designed notched needles to sculpt wool into shapes and designs. The notches on the needles tangle the wool fibers, causing them to interlock. Students learned to create anything from simple 2D flat pieces to intricate 3D sculptures. Students look forward to participating in fiber workshops with Little Loomhouse each year, and we are so thankful for their continued support. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the City of Louisville and the Fund for the Arts.
This Spring, students in my art classes participated in the ARTEffect Competition, sponsored by the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. In this project, students bring to life the stories of Unsung Heroes—individuals who demonstrated heroic traits and actions that made a profound impact on others, yet have been largely unrecognized by society. Since 2016, this annual art competition has engaged thousands of students in over 40 countries, inviting them to honor these role models with original artworks in a range of mediums and artistic expressions. Through their research, students created narrative artworks that tell the stories of their chosen hero. I collaborated with SW Regional Library’s Youth Services Librarian, Hailey Merriman, to plan a summer-long exhibit. Ms. Merriman suggested using the works to promote the Library’s Summer Reading Program. She ordered shelves to add under the artworks, and placed books featuring each hero on shelves next to the art. The library is a popular spot with teens, friends, and families. It was a wonderful way to showcase their work throughout the summer. Special thanks to the Southwest Regional Library, LFPL, for their continued support and community outreach efforts.
We hope you enjoy the latest issue of PRP’s award-winning student literary magazine, the PRP Pulse. This issue features special sections for the Lowell Milken ARTEFFECT Competition and the Floyd Collins Exhibit at Mammoth Cave National Park. Enjoy!
Congratulations to Christopher Sabol and Lauren Cox for having their murals selected to be displayed inside the local McDonald’s restaurants at 6400 Greenwood Rd and 2209 Taylorsville Rd in Louisville.
Chris Sabol is a student at Pleasure Ridge Park High School and Lauren Cox is a student at Atherton High School. Their murals are part of a local Owner/Operators Nagendra Jella’s McDonald’s Mural Program.
The art classes at Pleasure Ridge Park High School and Atherton High School were challenged to create artwork that blends the nostalgia of McDonald’s with their unique interpretation of Louisville, showcasing their personal connection to the city.
In recognition of their artistic achievement, each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Jella organization. Additionally, the art departments at both schools will receive $500 grants to support future creative endeavors.
Both JCPS students will now have their artwork displayed inside local McDonald’s Restaurants. Chris’s artwork, which pays homage to Louisville’s Lowrider culture mixed with McDonald’s nostaligia, will be installed at the McDonald’s on Greenwood Road and remain on view for the next year. Lauren’s work will be installed at the Taylorsville Road location.
The competition is part of McDonald’s “A Celebration of Culture and Community.” The initiative honors student creativity and community pride.
By Kleiver Almaguer FajardoBy Ava LongBy Kennedy Northern-AllisonBy Chris SabolBy Michiah AnthonyBy Alexa LopezBy Ai LinBy Dianelys Crespo CespedesBy Stormy EnglishBy Diamond CheapBy Miranda MeeksBy Emily PorterBy Logan BaizeBy Tabitha WallaceBy Leila HicksBy Ashanti EdwardsBy Landon EisenbachBy Naomi GloryBy Trent GodinBy Emma HaganArtwork by Meredith Chapman
More than 40 PRP art students recently created artwork for a contest sponsored by local McDonald’s owner/operator, Negendra Jella. McDonald’s will choose a winning artwork to be installed as a 5′ x 5′ mural at the Greenwood Road location. Students were asked to show what they love about Louisville and McDonald’s nostalgia, and to show their vision in their artwork. Shown above are some of the works submitted to the contest, which will award a lucky student with a $1000 prize. The winner will be announced at a press conference on May 13.
PRP Visual Art + Design / Ms. Webb 