VICENZA, Italy -- Andre Dibias, a Vicenza High School 12th-grader was selected as one of 37 Boys & Girls Clubs artists from more than 222 finalists who participated in the 2008 National Fine Arts Competition.
With his work "Untitled" Dibias won the 16 to 18 age group in the multi-colored category.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's fine arts program is a comprehensive initiative encouraging artistic skills and cultural enrichment.
As a participant in the fine arts program, the Boys & Girls Club of USAG Vicenza submitted artwork from four age divisions and 10 categories.
"Every December the youth program, in partnership with the Vicenza Middle and
High School, sets up the local National Fine Arts exhibit in the post library," said
Michael Morris, garrison CYS Youth Program director.
The NFAE program was created to help uncover the artistic talents of youth and motivate them to develop their creative skills and possibly explore related career opportunities.
At the beginning of last school year, "Untitled" was submitted by Dibias' art teacher, Kathleen O'Neill, into the contest.
"I didn't know much about it; this was an assignment, a simple drawing she [art teacher] gave us during class," Dibias said.
"We had to study a certain art movement, a certain period such as Pop Art and I chose to do Romantic art, which is from the 1800s," he explained.
"The artwork submitted by Andre was a self-portrait based on a Victorian view of himself at night," said O'Neill.
Dibias also has a keen interest in the off-beat art of filmmaker Tim Burton and finds inspiration in his subject matter, according to O'Neill.
"Andre successfully captured the foggy night atmosphere found in the movie Legend of
Sleepy Hollow in his self-portrait, giving it the dark mysterious impact he wanted," she said.
Dibias explained that he was surprised on being selected and then, later on, in the summertime, that he won in his category.
"I have always criticized my work," he said. "I would say that maybe it was selected because it is something different that they [judges] haven't seen before."
"I did the picture in black and white, but then I colored the flowers in the bottom, the roses are in red, and maybe the style I used was unusual," he added.
The National Fine Arts Exhibit is shown at BGCA's national conference and tours during the year.
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