Tanglewood Art League officers and members were in attendance at
the Museum of Florida Art and Culture at South Florida State College
on the evening of April 23, 2026. The evening celebrated the achievement of art students studying at the college at their Student
Juried Art Award Ceremony.
The Art League is very proud to have presented a monetary award to
exceptional young artists for the past sixteen years. The Art League
Committee visited the museum to judge the student’s art work.
Kathie Mousseau, President of the League, presented each student
with a $300.00 award accompanied by a framed Certificate of
Excellence and a letter acknowledging their achievements. The
two winners of this year’s awards were Kennedy Andrews and
Shakira Mercado.
Kennedy Andrews was born and raised in Sebring, Florida. Her
original interest was in working with clay. She is presently in her sophomore year at SFSC. Her interest in pottery led her to design
and build a village out of clay that was exhibited at MOFAC for
judging. Her interest in art brought her to work with acrylics and watercolor. Her mother bought her an art kit at Christmas when she was very young, that included all mediums. She comes from a very artistic family. Her father works with pencil drawing designs for buildings. Her mother works in all mediums and her brother works with pottery and digital design. She wishes to continue her artistic talent and let it take her on a journey to wherever she is meant to be.
Shakira Mercado was born in Puerto Rico. She came to the United
States, to Florida, with her mother and grandmother when she was 10 years old. When Shakira was five years old, she started to draw stick figures. She created art from stick figures by adding depth, movement
and personality. Art classes began in middle school. Shakira works
through her imagination painting surreal environmental art. She is
very open to learning and started digital art in Sebring High School.
Shakira’s art comes from her imagination, the environment and her heart. She described most of her art similar to Van Gogh in respect to depth, color, and imagination. She did remark that she has no ancestors who were artists. Shakira wants to attend Full Sail University. She will
work in acrylics, watercolor and mixed media. As far as her future, right
now she is open to whatever comes along and fulfills her imagination.
The Tanglewood Art League has great admiration for these two young ladies. We wish them every success and fulfillment in all their endeavors in bringing the joy of art to the world.
Submitted by Judith Eckstein
Secretary of the Tanglewood Art League
