Red Knight Artists Shine at MSHSL Visual Arts Festival

Nine BSM high school art students were awarded honors at the 2025 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class 6AA visual arts festival held on Saturday, April 26. Judah Johnson Nixon '25 (clay: "Before the Bloom"), Rainier Gilliss '26 (oil pastels: "Quiet Hour"), Eleanor Porisch '26 (photography: "Black Hills, SD"), and Patrick McDonald '26 (Digital Photography: "Cloaked") received superior ratings for their works of art, while Abby Marusich '26 (Acrylic painting: "Waterfall"), Paolo Righini '26 (Painting: "Branch"), Mackenzie Gleason '27 (Oil pastel: "My light from afar"), Maddy Wacek '27 (oil pastel: "Luna's Look"), and Ada Coppo '28 (oil pastel: "Grandpa's S'more Spot") received Excellence ratings.

"These BSM student artists demonstrated the exceptional talent that defines our arts program," said Kelli Rahn, BSM visual arts department chair, noting, "In addition to the individual awards for their works, junior Abigail Marusich received the prestigious MSHSL Spotlight on the Arts Award, and her work is now eligible to move on to the state level."

Marusich's acrylic painting features the famed Yosemite Falls in a vibrant palette of colors. "I got the inspiration for my piece after visiting Yosemite National Park. With this artwork, I wanted the viewer to be captured in the atmosphere of the scene with the tall cliffs and water rapids," Marusich explained.

The recognition means a lot to Marusich because it acknowledges the hard work and effort that all student artists at BSM put into creating beautiful works of art. “This shows the strength of the BSM art department,” Marusich explained, “BSM has been very influential in helping me grow as an artist. Having the materials in the art studios here has allowed me to experiment with new media and techniques, the teachers have been very helpful to teach me to think critically about artwork and how to make it better."

Each student artist at BSM puts in countless hours to hone their craft and talents in the art studios on campus. From learning how to throw clay, developing film, to mixing paints, the process of discovery includes moments of frustration, relief, exploration and eventual satisfaction when the effort produces a work of art that meets their expectations.

Eleanor Porisch’s piece “Black Hills, SD” features a part of nature which isn’t often seen, but holds a special place for her family, since they are from South Dakota. "I love photography, and I especially love getting just the right lighting to really make the viewer feel like they are in the place the photo was taken,” said. “One thing about me is that I am a morning person, so this piece also reflects my mornings with my family in SD and getting into nature bright and early!"

Her love of photography and trying different light settings has helped drive a passion for taking pictures in different lighting. "Mrs. Rahn has especially helped throughout the years. She has taught me new techniques and pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone. She has always been a supporter for me, even outside of photography class." For Rainier Gilliss, working with oil pastels to create his piece “In the Quiet Hour” was a new experience. “I learned many new techniques and really enjoyed the process all together. I aimed to evoke calm, introspection, and wonder by highlighting the bond between animals and nature.”

Rahn explained that the MSHSL Arts Festival is a unique event where student artists receive written feedback from three judges who review their work, with each piece being scored out of 20 points per judge for a total of 60 possible points. "These accomplishments reflect the dedication and creativity of our student artists and also showcase the strength and vitality of BSM’s visual arts program.”

The success of BSM students in the 2025 MSHSL Arts Festival highlights the high level of artistic achievement through the diverse course offerings in middle school and high school, offering a platform for students to thrive in the arts just as they do in other MSHSL activities and athletics.

For Marusich, her painting of the Falls at Yosemite will be featured at the 2025 MSHSL Visual Arts State Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Perpich Center for Arts Education (6125 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, MN 55422) and will be on display from noon until 1:45 p.m., after which an awards ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Congratulations to our 2025 MSHSL visual art award recipients: Judah, Rainier, Eleanor, Patrick, Abby, Paolo, Mackenzie, Maddy, and Ada on creating these works of art. We are BSM proud of your talents and achievements.