Morgan Dorn sculpts his masterpiece for the DPS Art Exhibition.
by Rhea Boyd
Denver Public School Art Exhibition’s “Best in Show” winner, Morgan Dorn, knows how to work his magic not only in ceramics, but in the rest of his life as well.
This month, Thomas Jefferson’s Senior Morgan Dorn won two awards: Best in Show and First Place in the Ceramics genre. He submitted an 18-inch coil pot that won over the judges. There were eleven DPS schools involved in the competition, including Denver School of the Arts. Each school was allowed to submit 15 art creations hand-picked by the teachers. Altogether 165 students competed for the title of Best in Show, and Dorn won it. “It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “I had no idea I’d win.”
Dorn is enrolled in TJ’s ceramics class with Catherine Salazar and the course introduced him to something he turned out to enjoy immensely. His aunt and uncle own the Robischon Art Gallery downtown, which has given him a little exposure to the art world. After joining the ceramics class he gained more interest and passion for the form. “I think it’s fun to build with my hands. You can do a lot of interesting things,” Dorn said.
The artwork that won Dorn the competition is a coil pot made up of rolled strings of clay stacked one atop the other. He says that the shape of the coils reminded him of snakes, which inspired him to sculpt several detailed snake heads into the piece. “The cool thing about Morgan is that he built his pot up on just an idea,” fellow ceramics classmate Sean Reifman said.
When asked where or from whom he gets his artistic inspiration from Dorn replied, “I find inspiration from things, not so much people. I really like doing my own thing and being original.” He also said that much of his art is representative of South American pieces.
Catherine Salazar’s students have participated in this competition from its inception, about thirty years ago, “Morgan is one of the more stand-out students I’ve had, and I think the only Best in Show winner, so that is exciting,” said Salazar, who added that she is extremely appreciative of Dorn’s presence in her class. “35 Morgans in one class would be heaven,” she jokes. “He is respectful and hardworking.”
Art is not the only class in which Dorn excels. He has a respectable GPA and participates thoroughly in all his classes. Dorn also gets along famously with his peers. “He is smart and really easy to talk to,” says Reifman.
Dorn hopes that he will carry his new-found hobby of pottery into the future. Although he never plans on selling his art, he hopes to display it around his home. “When I create something I put my all into it, all my passion. So, I like keeping it around,” he said.
Morgan Dorn’s award-winning artwork was on display at the atrium of the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building at 201 West Colfax Avenue.
