Sealth Sophomore Spencer Walker was awarded Best of Show honors at the Naramore Art Exhibit Friday, May 13 for his charcoal drawing, his Art Teacher Caroline Autenrieth titled "Fragmented." The exhibit, which is is on display at the Seattle Art Museum through June 4 features more than 200 works of art by Seattle Public School middle and high school students.

Autenrieth said, "He is one of the most prolific artists I know and last semester was taking my photography class and was just kind of doing OK. I saw him drawing. I started encouraging him and he started bringing in stuff that he was doing and I encouraged him to sign up for the International Baccalaureate program which he will do his Junior and Senior year. He carries his sketchbook around with him all the time, brings in stuff to me and will ask really intelligent questions about content and skills. I'm seeing between last semester and this semester a whole new level of focus for him.

Walker, who was taken by surprise by the award said, "The drawing doesn't really mean anything, I was just practicing. I just took pieces of things and put them together in a way that would look like a face (...) I was surprised, quite a bit (by the award). I feel pretty awesome."

Various media and techniques – including ceramics, pencil, oil and acrylic painting, collage, and photography – are all part of the exhibit.

The exhibit’s opening night reception on May 5 featured a short program to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of these talented students. West Seattle High School students, as well as students from other schools, were at the opening night ceremony.

The exhibition is named after Floyd J. Naramore, a Seattle Public Schools architect who, from 1919 to 1941, designed more than 22 schools.