By Brenda Ortega
MEA Voice Editor

MEA member Gabby Marderosian set a goal for 2025 to collect rejection slips as a means of pushing herself to complete personal art projects amid the demands of working as a traveling elementary art teacher in Farmington Public Schools.

“It’s a fun way of making yourself put yourself out there and not being afraid of getting rejected,” she said.

However, in her first-of-the-year submission to a juried art exhibition, Marderosian said she was “humbled, surprised and delighted” to win Best in Show. The fifth-year educator garnered the top honor in the 61^st Annual MEA/MAEA Art Purchase Exhibition.

Marderosian’s winning entry, a painting in acrylic titled “Strike in Nashville,” is on display along with nearly 70 accepted works from among more than 170 submissions by artists across Michigan at MEA Headquarters in East Lansing.

A fifth-year educator who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University in 2016, Marderosian said she hoped to tell a story with the piece and capture the nostalgic feeling of memory.

The painting uses a post-impressionist style to depict a fun outing to the bowling alley with friends and family in the moment of her sister rolling a strike.

“I was playing a lot with color and lighting and the contrast in warm versus cool colors,” she said. “There was a teal neon sign that lit the bowling alley in an interesting way with the reds of the lanes. Normally lighting is more on the warm side and shadows are cool, so it was interesting that the neon light was cool and the shadows were on the warmer side.”

The win gave confirmation that Marderosian chose the right path in college — a source of worry for her parents at the time. She focused her Fine Arts degree on photography and ceramics and remains largely self-taught in drawing and painting.

Marderosian initially worked in the non-profit sector after college, which included school programs where she discovered her joy in teaching and decided to get certified. In Farmington, she does cross-curricular art lessons in all of the elementary schools.

Her goal is to build children’s joy and confidence through strong supports and clear expectations. “I want them to feel like there are no mistakes and nothing to be embarrassed about — just opportunities for growth and problem-solving and thinking outside the box.”

She brought the same attitude to her fellow art teachers when the MEA/MAEA exhibition’s entry deadlines were announced, encouraging busy educators to keep up with their personal art practice despite other demands.

“It’s really nice to be able to motivate people who otherwise maybe think they don’t have time for personal work or sometimes can be their own worst critic,” Marderosian said. “You miss all the chances that you don’t take.”

Juror Mirvia Sol Eckert, a Puerto Rican painter and full-time artist in Indianapolis, said she selected “Strike in Nashville” as Best in Show because of its composition, contrast in colors, and dramatic storytelling.

“The technique and skill employed in this piece drew me in, encouraging me to return for a closer examination. The narrative behind the artwork intrigued me, making it a standout entry among many of the submissions.”

Judging exhibitions is a responsibility she takes seriously, Sol Eckert said. “I know firsthand the challenges of putting one’s work out there and the courage it takes to face the possibility of acceptance or rejection.”

Her advice for future entrants: make sure photographs of artwork are properly lit with a clean backdrop. “Overall, I truly appreciated the diverse range of art styles and art forms. It was inspiring to see the imaginative ways in which artists expressed their visual stories.”

In addition to Best in Show, awards categories included Honorable Mention, Juror’s Choice, MAEA Purchase, and MEA Purchase, said Dan Slagter, co-chair of the MEA Art Acquisitions Committee and an art teacher in Grand Rapids.

A piece titled “Holding Tight to Mom,” among those selected for MEA purchase, captured the spirit of this year’s show for the MEA members who volunteer to serve on the committee, Slagter said: “We have artworks depicting people of many cultures and backgrounds, and as public educators, we are here to educate all and take it very seriously.

“As stewards of this wonderful peninsula of Michigama, we showcase the beauty of our lands and their life-giving waters that surround. We celebrate the many industries of Michigan and the contributions of all workers through the different places represented, be it in lighthouses, storefronts, bridges, etc.

“At the end of the day we are that child holding onto its momma, Michigan.”

The MEA Art Acquisitions Committee chooses pieces from the exhibition for MEA to purchase and display in MEA offices across the state to promote and celebrate the creative talents of our members.

A reception to honor this year’s entries will be held Monday, June 9, from 5-8 p.m. at MEA headquarters, 1216 Kendale Blvd. in East Lansing. The public is welcome to attend.

The annual event welcomes original artwork submissions, including paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, metal work, enamels, mosaics, wood, fibers, stained glass, photographs, experimental media and sculptures crafted by MEA members.

This year’s accepted entries and award winners can be viewed at mea.org/art-2025.