After a five-year hiatus, Family & Children’s Services (FCS) relaunched our 22nd annual Children’s Art Contest. The contest was open to area youth in kindergarten through 12th grade. The theme for this year’s contest was Family Traditions. The contest attracted over 860 entries from 46 schools.
All winning art will debut at the main location of Philbrook Museum of Art during their Second Saturday events on February 8 from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Best of Show and first through third place winners will receive cash prizes and will be recognized at a reception. Special guest JP Morrison Lans, a featured artist during “The Experience” installation at The Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, will be the featured keynote speaker.
Philbrook’s Second Saturday events bring out the inner artists in each family member through a “Big Idea.” In honor of FCS’s Children’s Art Content, Philbrook is “Celebrating Child Artists”. Visit the display of award-winning art and get inspired to make art that celebrates family and what makes each child unique.
The winning entries will be permanently displayed in Family & Children’s Services’ new location at Legacy Plaza West and in offices throughout Tulsa and surrounding communities. The Best of Show art will be featured on the cover of the February 2020 issue of TulsaKids magazine. Other winners will be included in the publication.
Presenting sponsor of the FCS Children’s Art Contest is the Hardesty Family Foundation. Other partners include TulsaKids and Griffin Communication.
WINNING ARTISTS
BEST OF SHOW
Illia Arapox, Jenks Northwest Elementary School
By Sheeba Atiqi, TulsaKids Magazine
Family and tradition run deep in the Arapov family, and a big part of their family tradition is art. Illia Arapov, a Jenks fourth grader, also loves competing. Whether it’s competing with his brother building with MineCraft or entering the Family & Children Services (F&CS) art contest, 10-year-old Illia enjoys creative pursuits. Illia won Best of Show out of the hundreds of children’s artwork, from kindergarten through 12th grade, that was entered in this year’s F&CS art contest.
Q: I understand that your family is from Russia. When did you move here?
A: Dad is from Russia, but we were born and lived in Ukraine, in the city of Zaporozhye. We have been living in Tulsa since June 2018.
Q: Have you ever been to Russia?
A: Yes. Many times with dad’s parents.
Q: What does “family tradition,” the art contest theme, mean to you, and how did it inspire your painting?
A: We love spending time with our family. We like to travel a lot together and celebrate holidays together. I participated in competitions in Ukraine and won them. I like it. I love to draw from childhood and do crafts.
KINDERGARTEN – FIRST GRADE
1st Place – Alexia Garcia, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
By TulsaKids Magazine
Alexia’s art features her and her family going to Florida every spring to visit family and friends. While on vacation, they spend time in Key West with her dad’s aunt, Marina G. Wood. Alexia included in her art Key West’s amazing sunsets. Spending time with all the family is something the whole family looks forward to every year. They don’t have family in Oklahoma.
This art was made using oil pastels and paint. Alexia loves to paint and spends time with her sister looking up videos on YouTube on how to draw different animals and holiday scenes and painting them afterwards. For the last two years, Alexis has been a cheerleader for Eclipse Cheer Empire in Sapulpa. She is a very determined little girl and never gives up. When she can’t do something, she tries and tries again and again until she gets it.
2nd Place – Gordon Bryan, Homeschool
3rd Place – Briar Miller, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
Honorable Mentions:
Itzel Armendariz, Patrick Henry
Julie Capps, Patrick Henry
Carsen Fleetwood, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
Roxy Gonzales, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
SECOND – THIRD GRADE
1st Place – Alyssa Xiang, Union Anderson Elementary
By TulsaKids Magazine
Alyssa Xiang is growing up in a family rich with Chinese traditions as her parents are originally from China. Alyssa said, “Mom and Dad told me that Chinese New Year is China’s most important festival and holiday time. It is full of celebrations, people set off firecrackers at midnight, have family reunion dinner, watch colorful lanterns, watch dragon dances etc. I also watch a live Chinese TV show on Chinese New Year Eve every year to learn more about the customs and traditions.”
Alyssa has never visited China during Chinese New Year period, so she wanted to create her art all about the Chinese New Year saying, “Chinese is Good!” Alyssa said, “In this poster Mom, Dad and I are performing the Dragon Dance. Mom also holds a red fire lantern. The dragon represents prosperity, good luck and good fortune. In the background a lot of people are also celebrating with torches, fireworks and lanterns and watching the parade.” Alyssa used markers, acrylic paint and a paint marker.
2nd Place – Callie Turner, St. Mary
3rd Place – Declan Buckner, Homeschool
Honorable Mentions:
Ryann Brown, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
Izzy Henry, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
Sabrina Horton, Northwoods Fine Arts Academy
Bella Huynh, Union Anderson Elementary.
FOURTH – FIFTH GRADE
1st Place – Anya McDaniel, Jenks East Intermediate
By TulsaKids Magazine
Anya’s family has several traditions. Half of her family on her mom’s side is from China. Every three years they visit them, as represented by the dragon in her art. Every summer her family also goes on a road trip. The road and van represent that tradition. All the postcards represent places visited. The Christmas tree represents her tradition surrounding Christmas when as a family, they celebrate and give gifts to each other. Anya used Prismacolor, a Uniball pin, and a pencil.
2nd Place – Karime Amaya, Lewis and Clark Elementary
3rd Place – Adrian Gonzalez, Mitchell Elementary
Honorable Mentions:
Jackelin Benitez González, Marshall T. Moore Elementary
Andrea Flores, Saints Peter and Paul
Jennifer Ngo, Jarman Elementary
Abbie Vogt, Lake Country Christian School
SIXTH – EIGHTH GRADE
1st Place – Emma Bowden, Lake Country Christian School
By TulsaKids Magazine
Emma’s family likes to take pictures of everything they do. They especially love to travel, watch movies, and swim. Emma’s favorite place she traveled with friends was Destin, Florida. Her family also has a lot of movie nights, a tradition carried down from her dad’s family. Recently, Emma’s family got a pool, so they spent most of their summer outside swimming. Emma said, “I have learned to be an artist because of my art teacher, Mrs. DePetris. I’ve been her student since kindergarten, and she has taught me to use many different media. She has also encouraged me to enter many art contests, including this one. I am grateful to be her student.” Emma used Prismacolor.
2nd Place, Wyatt Wooden, Rejoice Christian School
3rd Place, Yedid Nefesh Max, Cooper Elementary
Honorable Mentions:
Ava Coulter, Rejoice Christian School
Asucena Pozos, Mitchell Elementary
Sophie Roberts, Rejoice Christian School.
NINTH – TWELFTH GRADE
1st Place – CamHang Tsan, Union High School
By TulsaKids Magazine
CamHang Tsan used to live in a small country town in Vietnam, where agriculture was significant. Her family were farmers and would plant corn, black beans, coffee bean, and fruits. They also raised backyard chickens for eggs. Because there was so much work, every family member shared the load. Adults took care of the fields and the children helped feed the chickens, collect eggs and did chores around the house. The work was harsh, but they would get it done as a family – cherishing their time together and taking pride in their work.
CamHang said, “I always find myself interested in art, but I did not have much of a chance to learn and explore it back then in Vietnam because of the hard life. Now that I am in America, I hope things will change. This is the very first contest that I have ever participated, and I am very happy that I made the first place. This contest really gives me an opportunity to prove myself. I wish there will be more contests like this so I can learn new things, sharpen my skills and fulfill my dream as becoming a professional artist.”
Today, most of CamHang’s family lives in the United States. The farming in Vietnam was given to CamHang’s big brother, Long, and his family so that they can carry on the family tradition.
This painting is both watercolor and acrylic.
2nd Place, Annelise Eggen-McElmurry, Riverfield Country Day School
3rd Place, Dianne Bautista, Union High School
Honorable Mentions:
Yasmine Enge, Union High School
Valentine Moraes, Union High School
Jennifer Nguyen, Union High School
Savanna Rogers, Union High School
Marbeth Vazquez, Union High School.
FINALISTS FROM ALL CATEGORIES
Adrien Rodriguez
Ahtziri Varela Esparza
Alicia Bockman
Andrea Pujol
Andrea Schweikert
Aurora Palmer
Avery Ledbetter
Baylin Blevins
Bethany Stewart
Brady Young
Bryana Gayton
Brynnlee Cline
Carlos Montejo
Cassie Falley
Danielle Chasengnou
Ella Marks
Gisselle Martinez
Haddie Bowden
Hali Simpson
Hannah Kauffman
Irelynd Gilman
Isaac West
Jacqueline Medina
Jared Boatman
Jasmine Goday
Jayden Gifford
Jayla Truong
Jorge Valdez
Joshua Compton
Karis Rice
Kaylin Turnage
Kenadee Qualls
Kimberly Perez
Kinley Spradline
Liam Noah
Loralie Casey
Lylee Guinn
Marysa Rice
Max Wilson
Mila Bennefield
Nash Huff
Nerak Thomas
Nha Duong
Nike Chalakee
Nytoria Hamilton
Peyton Salazar
Raegan Hill
Remmy Porter
Ryan Stassburg
Saul Pinacho
Simon Faba Jimenez
Sophie Watkins
Victoria Garcia
Wyatt Shaw
Zoey Renfro
