Implemented at the GFWC-WI club, district, and state levels, this annual juried art contest for 7th and 8th grade public, private, and home-schooled students is unique to GFWC-Wisconsin. 

The art contest was created in 1927 by GFWC-WI to honor renowned Oshkosh sculptor, Helen Farnsworth Mears (1871-1916).  Her works are on display in the U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Madison State Capitol, and other national and state collections.  

The art contest has three levels of competition:

1.   LOCAL - our GFWC Brown Deer Junior Woman’s Club

2.   DISTRICT - GFWC Lakeshore District, which consists of Woman's Clubs from Greenfield to Port Washington.

3.   STATE

Our Brown Deer Junior Woman's Club contest winners are entered into the District and State competitions.  They are honored at our May awards ceremony.

For each artwork category (2D painting/drawing, 3D sculpture, and in 2021 Digital Art). 1st, 2nd, 3rd and possibly Honorable Mentions are awarded at each level.

In addition to this, the artworks that place at the State level, are displayed at the Oshkosh Library for the summer.

Note:  In addition to the above awards, our Brown Deer Juniors Club members also vote to award a "People's Choice" award for each category at our LOCAL level.