The COVID outbreak in 2020 resulted in all local and area art competitions being cancelled and so far they have not started up again so art students have had limited opportunities to compete. This past spring the Newkirk Main Street Association and Oklahoma Arts Council working with Audrey Schmidt local artist and head of the visual arts department at NOC, asked area students attending public, private, charter, and home schools to enter art work for a project. The project was to create an 8x8 inch picture that would be transferred to a ceramic tile and installed at the base of the flag pole located on the southeast corner of the Kay County Court House courtyard as part of the new Amphitheatre. There were two categories 4-8 grades and 9-12 grades, artists were to depict the meaning of patriotism to them in their choice of medium and also complete a short essay explaining their picture image and use of color. The winners were chosen earlier this semester and then completed the transferring of their drawings to ceramic tiles under the direction of Ms. Schmidt assisted by NOC art students in the ceramic lab. She then over saw the installation in Newkirk. Students were recognized at the unveiling on April 26th 2022. Tonkawa schools had 7 tiles chosen in the 4-8th grade category and 8 tiles chosen in the High school category. So 15 of the 28 tiles chosen represent Tonkawa school artists.
