Jr. Judges Panel

An ink and pencils maestro, Roc Bottom has garnered praise from hundreds for his stylistic and innovative approach to his craft. His creative works have been featured in The Underwire Online magazine with his creator owned comic, Lion's Den Revolution, the first comic to ever be presented in digital desktop format. Other comics credits include, Queen of Sin and Master’s Devils for Legion Studios, and 803 from 803 Studios. Roc's titles include, Order, Shadowclub Karma, and Jet Boy: Dawn of K.R.O.N.O.S. , a comic/animated series based on these properties is currently in production.

It's extremely important for the youth to be involved in the arts. Long after we are gone and have served our purpose,  it's up to them to carry that touch and keep art alive. It's up to us, as adults,  not to teach them what art is, because everyone has a different definition based on experience, but to expose them to art so they can determine definition is and express themselves artistically on their terms.

I have taught art in all grade levels in the public school system from Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Adults. My art education started in Elementary school when I rushed through work to get to spend time painting at the easel in the back of the room. That education continued at Winthrop University (BA), University of South Carolina (MA) and post graduate education at the University of South Carolina (PHD, ABD). Perhaps the most inspiring education came from the Columbia Museum of Art as the Studio Program Coordinator and the liaison to art educators of all levels to include gaining recertification hours for programs for teachers through the State Department of Education.

I received numerous National Art Education Awards for the SCAEA Youth Art programs, the South Carolina Art Education Award as the South Carolina Art Educator of the Year, as well as the Columbia Museum Employee of the Year. Art is as necessary as breathing. Exposure to the visual arts gives substance to intangible feelings and emotions as well as an innate appreciation for beauty that lives in our soul. Giving students the opportunity to have experiences in the arts opens doorways for success through creating and/or interpreting works of art while instilling an understanding of history, cultural differences, and the importance of innovation and interpretive thinking. The arts have the unique ability to engage students in a manner that relates across all disciplines and can become relevant to student thoughts and lives. Quality visual arts education transcends age and ability level and has the probability of becoming a positive, permanent, influence for a lifetime.

Emily Manalo Ruiz is an artist based in Charleston, SC. She received her BFA in Painting & Art History from the University of South Carolina and received her Fashion Studies certificate from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA. Ruiz worked in art & fashion for a number of years thereafter in galleries, arts enrichment programs and for major corporate retailers. Alongside her personal art practice, she currently works as an artisan & designer for Brackish, a Charleston-based luxury accessories company.

In 2013, Ruiz was awarded Grand Prize in 3rd Ward Philadelphia's Juried Showcase: Learn. Make. Inspire. She has shown in group and solo shows, both nationally and internationally, in galleries, museums and universities. Ruiz also worked as a studio assistant to the late artist, David Beck, on his piece, MVSEVM, commissioned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.

Ruiz believes that youth participation in the arts is vital as an outlet for personal expression, building empathy and connection, and coping with and processing life experience in this ever-changing, modern world.

Brittany graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY, earning a BA in Studio Fine Arts. She later attended the Mount Gretna School of Art in Lancaster County, PA, for its intensive six- week summer program focused on perceptual landscape painting. In 2018 she earned her MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a concentration in painting. Her MFA thesis exhibition was grounded in direct observations of changes in specific landscapes. Since graduate school she has been an artist-in-residence at Salem Artworks in Salem, NY, Mount Gretna School of Art (Four Pillars Residency) in Mount Gretna, PA and Vermont Studio Centers in Johnson, VT. Her work has been shown around the country including through the Susquehanna Museum of Art in Harrisburg, PA, Intersect Art Center in St. Louis, MO, Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, OH, Prince Street Gallery in New York, NY, and Site-Brooklyn also based out of New York, NY. She is currently Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Francis Marion University in Florence, SC.

Kristofer M. Neely serves as Professor of Art at Spartanburg Methodist College. He is best know for his Guardian paintings that have been exhibited and collected widely in the Upstate of South Carolina.  Neely graduated in 2002 from Wofford College and earned his MFA in 2009 at Goddard College. Neely volunteers locally with numerous youth programs, and has helped to grow the art programs at both Wofford and SMC.

Pam Wittfeld is a retired Secondary Art educator with 31 years classroom experience, most recently with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She taught and wrote district curriculum for 2D and 3D Art, Fine Crafts and Graphic Design – teaching all levels including Advanced Placement for which she was certified. Specific to Visual Arts, Pam was a NCAEA Secondary Art Educator, a National Board Certified Teacher, and was recognized by National Scholastics Art&Writing for her students’ winning works. Pam served on museum and art center committees, led workshops for peers and community, and scored student art for NC Regional Scholastics Art&Writing; in recent years she scored student art for NC Association of Scholastic Activities. Upon retirement, Pam worked several years with teachers in their classrooms, implementing grant projects as a Bechtler Museum Teaching Artist until her move to Blythewood, SC.

Pam earned her Art Education degree at Florida State University where she developed an interest in metalsmithing. Since revisiting those interests in the early 90s, she has received numerous scholarships, grants and recognitions based on her creative endeavors and accomplishments – Charlotte Arts & Science Council, Friends of Arrowmont, NCAEA Prof Development Award, NC Regional Arts Science Council Emerging Artist Award, McColl Foundation NC Art Educator Scholarship and more. Pam was juried into an eleven-week Art Teacher Resource Residency at the McColl Center for Art, allowing her to leave her classroom to focus on development of personal work - an experience proving to be affirming and beneficial in her continued endeavors. As an adult learner, Pam served as a role model to her students. Studying at Penland, Arrowmont, and virtually through Pocosin School of Art, Pam has worked with many recognized artists focused on metals, and recently vitreous glass enamels. Pam has shown and sold work, and had work published. She enjoys challenges of each learning experience and is inspired by a quote attributed to Michelangelo … “I am still learning”.