Dalton, GA – The Creative Arts Guild presented the 2025 Bernice Spigel Prize for Excellence in the Visual Arts to Ada Arevalo on March 7, 2025, during the opening of the Annual Student Art Exhibition. This award, which includes a $1,000 prize and a solo gallery show, recognizes the top senior artist in the Dalton/Whitfield and Murray County area. Arevalo’s work will be on display at the Creative Arts Guild through March 26, 2025.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that a Dalton High School (DHS) student has received this honor. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Spigel Prize was established to recognize the contributions of the Creative Arts Guild’s first Executive Director, Bernice Spigel. The award continues to inspire and encourage young artists in the region to explore and develop their artistic talents.
Spigel’s legacy in Dalton extends beyond her role as an arts advocate. Following her tenure at a New York advertising agency, where she collaborated with artists such as Andy Warhol, she relocated to Dalton and played a pivotal role in nurturing the Creative Arts Guild from its inception. Her lifelong dedication to the arts, education, and children’s causes remains a source of inspiration for the local community.
The Spigel Prize is open to high school seniors from public, private, and home-school settings within Dalton/Whitfield and Murray County. Recipients are selected based on their artistic excellence and commitment to their craft.
Ada Arevalo, a talented artist and illustrator, has been immersed in art since her early beginnings in elementary school, exploring acrylics, charcoal, and graphite. Her passion for the arts led her to take every available art class throughout her academic journey, ultimately culminating in her participation in Dalton High's International Baccalaureate (IB) Visual Arts Program.
She will graduate from Dalton High School in May, earning the Georgia Department of Education Fine Arts diploma seal.
Dalton Public Schools congratulates Ada on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to seeing her continued success in the arts. Her passion and talent serve as an inspiration to young artists in the DPS community, reinforcing the importance of artistic expression and creativity.
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