Getting inside Jane Moldenhauer's mind was not difficult.

Her artist's video took the audience in one ear and out the other, and she penned her philosophy on a sheet of notebook paper for those who missed the subtleties of her work.

"God is the true artist," she wrote in her video as an Austin High School Artist of the Year candidate.

Moldenhauer was announced as the 2003 Artist of the Year at the annual assembly at Austin High School Friday afternoon. With that honor comes a $500 cash award for her work in a variety of mediums throughout her high school career.

"I've been doing art since I was little," she said, naming her father, also an artist, as a big supporter of her work.

Her spirituality, she said, is a driving force when she is working. God can be seen in many of her paintings, and the seemingly secular works are still inspired by him.

"All of my art that I do, I dedicate to God," she said.

She will attend the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul next fall, but she does not know how she will use her talents in life.

The money probably will be used to purchase supplies for her classes, she said.

The annual assembly had a patriotic theme this year. A 23 x 16-foot grid piece of Uncle Sam was the backdrop for the stage, and as this year's Artists of the Week came on to start the show, they emerged from the giant figure's shirt.

"Packer Cabana," a play off of the song "Copa Cabana" was the soundtrack for their entrance, and each student's name was incorporated into the song.

Art teacher Barry Brobeck talked to the audience about the importance of art.

He said it provided a voice for thoughts and feelings difficult to verbalize. It also brings the school together and creates a connection with the community, he said.

"We learn to both recognize the beauty in the world and create beauty of our own," he said.

Winners from the art show, which has been on display at the Oak Park Mall, were announced one by one. Category winners received their awards, walking onto the stage to whatever music they had selected.

Between the category awards, three to four-minute videos created by each of the five candidates played on the stage's screen.

Most were very personal, showing the relationship between the artists' work and their regular lives.

Mike Ashley's video featured war footage and a procession of marching cartoon hammers. It then switched to scenes of him alone, working on his art or just sitting in a porch swing or on his bed. He created a collage of his pencil drawings for one scene.

Besides Moldenhauer and Ashley, Leah Brandon, Jennifer Laskewitz and Katie Vaith were up for the award. The four candidates who did not win the Artist of the Year award did not go home without anything. Each received a $100 cash award for their efforts.

Art teacher Bruce Loeschen said each candidate was very talented in their particular field, but Moldenhauer worked well in a number of mediums including scratch art and acrylic.

Loeschen said her dedication to art and the art club, of which she is currently president, was also a factor in the award.

"Watching over the years, Jane hung in there and did an overall great job," he said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com