OTISFIELD – A sketch by sixth-grader Brianna Smith has been exhibited at the Portland Museum of Art, under the same roof with works by Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer, Monet, Picasso and Degas.

The museum exhibited what could only be described as “early works” by upcoming masters during National Youth Art Month. In collaboration with the Maine Art Educators Association, the museum displayed works by more than 100 Maine students from kindergarten to grade 12 in its galleries.

The exhibit ended Sunday.

Brianna was one of three students chosen by SAD 17 Elementary School art teacher Carol Slade from Otisfield Community School for the exhibit. Runners-up were second-grader Charlee Noble and fourth-grader Jillian Jacobs. Slade was allowed to select one piece of art from the school. All three students received certificates of recognition at school.

Because Brianna was chosen for the museum display, she also received a certificate and a pin during the show’s opening.

“When I got there (the Museum of Art), I wasn’t nervous,” Brianna said. “Everyone else was. As it got closer to them calling my name, I got nervous and everyone else seemed to get calmer.

‘I walked up slowly’

“When they called my name, I walked up slowly, like my mom told me to, and the lady said she liked my necklace and I said my grandmother gave it to me,” she continued with a smile. “Then I walked over to say, ‘Hi,’ to Mrs. Slade and she said I did a great job because I didn’t trip.”

Brianna with her mom and dad, Jay and Tracy Smith, grandparents, brother and sisters, and one of her friends made an evening of it. They dressed up and went out to dinner as well as attending the opening and presentations at the museum.

“Participation in the program shows students what a good job they are doing,” Slade said. “They get a chance to see the great works of art on display at the museum, and they get a piece hung with the great masters.”

Brianna, who noted that her mother often receives recognition at fairs, said with a grin, “Mom gets awards at fairs, I get mine at museums.”

Once Brianna’s pencil sketch is returned to the school, it will be displayed in the front hall near the office.

“I’m going to keep trying my best and get more awards,” Brianna said when asked where she goes from here. “I have fun and enjoy art. I might enter some of my drawings in a fair.”

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