Olentangy sisters’ art impresses judges at countywide show
* Senior Taylor Dorsey took home Best in Show honors for her Peter Rabbit-themed chess set.
By BRETT NUCKLES
Published: Sunday, February 6, 2011 8:11 AM EST

Twenty-six talented student artists were honored at a countywide art fair this month, but a sister duo from Olentangy Liberty High School may have outpaced them all.

Taylor Dorsey, 17, was named Best of Show at the 2010 Delaware County High School Art Show for a ceramics piece based on the classic Peter Rabbit storybooks. Her sister, Caley Dorsey, 16, was the only artist in the show to be recognized twice, placing third in both the drawing and ceramics individual categories.

The juried show took place Jan. 23 at the Arts Castle, 190 W. Winter St. in Delaware, where more than 200 entries by students from nine high schools across the county are still on display.

Memories from her childhood inspired Taylor’s winning entry: a fully sculpted chess set based on the world of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.

“When I need some creativity, I like to think back to the things that I loved when I was younger,” she said.

Each chess piece in the set is sculpted into the shape of one of the animals that roamed the fields where Peter Rabbit lived: a goose, a rat, a pig and a cat, among others. Peter Rabbit himself stands tall as the king on one side of the chess set, while the irritable farmer Mr. McGregor stands as the opposing king. Pawns are carrots on one side, turnips on the other.

Crafting the tiny characters took plenty of patience, Taylor said.

“It was hard to get in all the details, but I didn’t mind because I love working small,” she said.

Her sister, Caley, said the impressive craftsmanship that went into the piece made it stand out.

Full article here.

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