Everyone has a story — what's yours?

If their artwork is anything to go by, the story of Bermuda's children is rich and varied. Ferris wheels and forests, sailing and sunsets, puzzles and Pisa all have a part to play in the vibrant, imaginative world on display at the Bermuda National Gallery until Tuesday, January 15.

The artwork was created by the 581 entrants in the Gallery's fifth annual student art competition ranging from Primary 3 to high school in 12 of the Island's public and private schools.

The art and the accompanying stories provide adults with inspiration and an opportunity "to see them in their true element, in the rawest of prisms", as Acting Minister of Education Nelson Bascome noted in his opening remarks at the prize giving and reception for students, parents and teachers on Tuesday, January 8.

To honour the best and the brightest, there were not one, but two Government ministers on hand, Mr. Bascome, standing in for Minister of Education, Randolph Horton, and Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler. Mr. Bascome paid tribute to the young people whose work presented adults with "interpretations that lift our spirits, test our present perceptions and transport us from the present to a world of endless possibilities".

Recalling his own artistic efforts as a student, Minister Bascome shared with his conviction that art is "alive and well" in Bermuda and that he was "moved by the art which I see".

First, second and third place prizes were awarded to students in nine age groups from Primary 3 to Primary 6, middle school and high school.

Not only were students rewarded for excellence, their schools, too cashed in on prizes. The winners were also eligible for a draw for two airline tickets on American Airlines and Azana Riley of Purvis Primary was the lucky winner; a second draw, open to the students' teachers, was won by Sally Craig of Warwick Academy.

Though selected artwork was singled out for particular notice, in celebrating the students' outstanding efforts, Mr. Bascome noted: "You are all winners."

And the winners are:

Primary 3 (126 entries)

1st place: Franciso Labollita, "First Day at School" Mount St. Agnes

2nd place: Charis Jane Todd, "Birth of My Sister" Bermuda High School

3rd place: Brandon Jones, "Great Pisa" Warwick Academy

Primary 4 (46 entries)

1st place: Jesse Washington, "The Colourful Trees" Purvis Primary

2nd place: Maceo Dill, "In the Shell" Purvis Primary

3rd place: Arianna Stapley, "My Cousin Rebecca" Somersfield Academy

Primary 5 (54 entries)

1st place: Abigail Exon, "Playing the Violin" Saltus Primary

2nd place: Cody Bean, "Life is Beautiful" Northlands Primary

3rd place: Mikaela Joy Kawaley-Latham, "My Stuffed Animal Elley" Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation

Primary 6 (36 entries)

1st place: Edward A. Fischer, "Life is Art" Somersfield Academy

2nd place: Azana Riley, "Tree of Love" Purvis Primary

3rd place: Mia Fung, "Puzzled Landscape" Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation

Middle School (201 entries)

1st place: Sarah Zurbuchen, "Life is Art" Somersfield Academy

2nd place: Sierra Yit, "Life Story" Bermuda High School

3rd place: Aoife Rynne, "Myself as a Tree" Bermuda High School

Senior School (96 entries)

1st place: Domico Watson, "Early Morning Catch" Somersfield Academy

2nd place: Meagan Wellman, "My Tree of Life" Warwick Academy

3rd place: Charles Skater, "Complicated Life" Berkeley Institute