First-Ever Entry, First-Place Win: Kirtland Art Student Takes Top Honors at International Fine Art

First-Ever Entry, First-Place Win: Kirtland Art Student Takes Top Honors at International Fine Arts Exhibition

GRAYLING, Mich. (October 12, 2026) — Zaria Converse, an art student at Kirtland Community College, was awarded first place in Jurors Choice Best of Show at the 2026 Great Northern Art Explosion, an international juried fine arts exhibition hosted annually by the AuSable Artisan Village in Grayling, Michigan. This achievement marks a major milestone in Converse’s artistic and academic journey, as it was the first art show submission.

Raised by a family of artists, Converse had initially only viewed painting as a hobby before starting at Kirtland. She was encouraged to apply to the art show by her mentor and Kirtland art professor, Scott Rice.

“Since her first moment in the art department, Zaria proved herself as a leader, mentor, someone I could always count on, and a gifted artist,” Rice said. “She has always been to me a great artist with advanced technical skills and passion to express her emotions onto her paper; but now, she has proven herself to the art world that she is meant to be an artist winning best of show at this national art competition. I am so proud of her; she truly deserves this recognition.”

“There’s a culture in the art department where we all want to see other artists succeed and achieve great things,” said Converse. “It’s a creative and collaborative environment where we inspire each other.”

Converse’s piece, titled “Depletion of the Blue Gold,” is a visual representation of the artist’s frustration with the increasing creep of artificial intelligence on ecosystems. The work is accompanied by a tag explaining the image “captures the heat and pain in a world without our most vital resources: water. I drew inspiration for this from my frustration with the unregulated development of data centers in Michigan and the threat they pose to our natural landscape, and in turn: us.”

The result of three months of late nights in the art department painting with her face six inches from the canvas was confirmation that Converse made the correct call to both invest in higher education and pursue her passions. The win also emboldens her belief that the preservation of the natural environment and the impact of data center developments resonate with others as the piece sparks conversations around those concerns.

“We're very proud of Zaria and this amazing accomplishment,” said Kirtland’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, John Thiel. “I'm not surprised that she was honored by the voters at the Artisan Village's event. Kirtland's art program consistently produces amazing talent, and Zaria is one of the best artists I've seen in the program in recent years. We're looking forward to great things from Zaria in the future!”

“I am always blessed to have classes filled with so many talented and creative students,” Rice said, “but to have a student surpass your expectations as a young artist, that is an honor to always treasure.”

“Depletion of the Blue Gold” remains on display at the AuSable Artisan Village. The public is invited to the Kirtland art show Dec. 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Kirtland’s Grayling campus to see additional works from this semester’s students.

About Kirtland Community College

Kirtland Community College has been inspiring excellence for over 50 years and offers courses in Grayling, Gaylord, and online. Our mission at Kirtland is to provide innovative educational opportunities to enhance student lives and build stronger communities. Through our offered educational programs, we believe Kirtland will be the first choice for learner-centered education guiding students and communities toward success. For more information about Kirtland Community College, visit Kirtland.edu, or call (989) 275-5000.