Concord-Carlisle High School Students Selected for National Ceramics Exhibition

John “Fisher” Tibbitt’s piece, titled “A Secret Garden Residence,” left, and Paulina “Polly” Rivero’s piece, titled “Penitent Mary Magdalene,” were selected for the K-12 Ceramic Exhibition hosted by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)

CONCORD — Two Concord-Carlisle High School students have been selected to exhibit their work at a national ceramics exhibition, placing them among a small group of student artists chosen from more than 1,000 submissions across the country.

Students Paulina “Polly” Rivero and John “Fisher” Tibbitt were selected for the K-12 Ceramic Exhibition hosted by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA). Their work will be displayed during the organization’s annual conference in Detroit from March 25-28.

Only 150 students nationwide were selected for the exhibition. In total, 750 high school juniors and seniors applied, and 1,051 students across kindergarten through grade 12 submitted work.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment,” said Concord-Carlisle High School ceramics teacher Sarah Chapman. “Fisher and Polly’s work are completely different, yet both are incredibly strong in their own way. That’s exactly what you hope to see in a ceramics program. Students learn the same core skills, but they use them to express different ideas and perspectives.”

Rivero’s sculpture, “Penitent Mary Magdalene,” explores the challenge of translating fabric into clay. Her piece, inspired by the painting “The Holy Face” by Francisco de Zurbarán, depicts Saint Mary Magdalene emerging from draped ceramic fabric.

“I thought sculpting fabric might be challenging, but it creates such an interesting effect when the form is translated into ceramic,” she said. “When I found out my piece had been selected to be shown, I felt overcome with excitement, but also incredibly grateful as it felt like my hard work was finally getting some recognition.”

Tibbitt’s piece, titled “A Secret Garden Residence,” is an architectural sculpture that took more than a month to complete. The project was a shift from the wheel-thrown ceramics he had previously created in class.

“It started as an exploration; I had never deviated from the usual wheel-thrown pieces we did in class. But thanks to Mrs. Chapman’s classroom environment, which encourages independent exploration, I had the freedom to begin an architectural piece,” he said. “I am honored to have my work showcased at this show. If this news had been shared with me last year, I would have never believed it. I did not consider myself much of an artist at the time. Despite this, I found a style that spoke to me, and with that, I made a piece I am very proud of. I am pleased to be selected, and I hope my work inspires others just like it inspired me.”

Chapman said Tibbitt’s work stands out for its imagination and detail, with architectural elements that invite viewers to study the piece closely. Rivero’s sculpture, she said, has a strong emotional quality, with folds of clay that feel alive and expressive.

“Being recognized through the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts  is incredibly meaningful,” Chapman said. “It is one of the most respected organizations in the ceramics world. For students to receive that kind of recognition at the high school level is a major honor.”

Students whose work is selected for the exhibition are also eligible to apply for more than $50,000 in scholarships and awards offered annually through the program. Awards range from cash prizes to renewable college scholarships.

Chapman will attend the conference to represent the school and support the students whose work was selected.

“Polly and Fisher’s selection for this national exhibition speaks to their talent and willingness to challenge themselves creatively,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter. “We are proud of both students for earning this recognition, and we are equally proud of the arts program educators at Concord-Carlisle High School that encourage students to take risks and develop their skills as artists.”

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