THE BEST artists from each school in Granite District participated in the 2025 Art Olympics. This year’s Art Olympics were held on March 5 at Kearns High School. The competition is a public event that allows for visitors and news stations to spectate the live art process, and six Granger Lancers earned awards.
The Art Olympics is an event in which the best artists from each school complete an original piece of art. Contestants have four hours to complete their pieces and are then judged for awards. Students compete in various categories such as black and white drawing, color drawing, digital art, opaque painting, watercolor, mixed media, sculpture, and ceramics.
Art Olympians work hard to prepare for this competition, as it is a very difficult task to complete an artwork in only four hours. Granger’s art department prepared Art Olympians by hosting mandatory meetings as well as providing after school help and support for artists. Art teachers spoke individually to each student to provide all the supplies needed as well as setting a plan and offering words of advice.
Yuritzi Linares (11) won first place in the working from life category as well as third place in overall 2D. Linares attended the Art Olympics meetings and used the figure drawing club as a tool for practice. After drawing for most of her life, Linares decided to learn a new skill and try out figure drawing. “I’ve been drawing my whole life, but I haven’t been figure drawing for long,” Linares said.
For the competition, Linares drew two models from life in various poses using charcoal and pencils, I feel like figure drawing or drawing from life is very simple, easy, and quick, so four hours felt like a lot. I was already gone by the first hour,” Linares said.
Art Olympians often have problems with time management and stress control. “I think time management was hard because I got lost in the first hour, but other than that I just got a hand cramp, and my feet were dying, but I didn’t have any actual problems with drawing,” Linares said. Though many students usually run out of time during the event, Linares was able to complete her pieces with some time left.
In the category of black and white drawing, Johnathan Lopez (11) won second place. Lopez used graphite and colored pencils to complete his piece. Other than attending the Art Olympic meetings, Lopez practiced his skills in his spare time, “Most of the time I spend my free time sketching my pieces,” Lopez said. He uses his spare time in classes to sketch and plan out his ideas.
Two Lancers working in 3D categories were able to make it to the awards list. Marlee Rodriguez (11) won second place in wheel-thrown ceramics, as well as third place in 3D best display. In her category, Rodriguez was expected to complete a bottle, vase, bowl, and a cylinder. Rodriguez says the hardest part of her process was centering the clay on the wheel, “That was just really difficult for me because we only had four hours, so I had to do it quickly, and my hands were going numb because of how hard I was pushing the clay,” Rodriguez said.
Leading up to the competition, Rodriguez practiced her wheel throwing skills for months in advance. “Zach told me what I would need to throw on the wheel, and I practiced that for three months,” Rodriguez said. She says her favorite part of the event was seeing her fellow artist’s work, “I loved looking at other people’s work because it’s just so fun being able to see the different types of art forms…there were sculptures, carved items, and a lot of things people make that are just so fun to see,” Rodriguez said. As a 3D artist, Rodriguez found other 3D projects most interesting.
Tahi Malohifo’Ou (12) won first place in sculpture, as well as third place in 3D overall. Malohifo’Ou is a first-time competitor in the Art Olympics. He used clay to create a piece inspired by the phrase ‘drink like a fish.’ His experience as an Art Olympian went smoothly. “I was really surprised I had almost an hour extra,” Malohifo’Ou said. He says he really enjoyed the moment after the competition when students were allowed to walk around and look at other art pieces, “It was a good time to see what the other kids had to offer,” Malohifo’Ou said.
Overall, the Art Olympics is a great opportunity for those interested in the arts. Whether one is attending as a participant or a spectator, this event is very fun to experience, “If you have the chance, I think you should totally compete, even if you don’t think you’re good enough. It’s a really good time to just go and see other people’s art and just experience that,” Malohifo’Ou said.
