“This started out as a little conversation with Mike and then turned into this,” said Romero.Over 400 artworks were submitted for consideration. Judges were Linda and Eric Richards for Ceramics, John Nichols (who, with Anne Graumlich, curated the show under the Sespe Group banner and also worked with the students on framing and display skills) who judged the Computer or Graphic Arts, and Judy Klement and Dolas Tubbs, who judged Fine Arts.“The student artists are just fabulous,” said Klement, like Tubbs an award-winning professional artist. “I was just so impressed at the wonderful work they turned out!”Winners of the 4th annual Las Medallas de Oro Art Exhibit were:Ceramics, Danielle Bautista, the Gold Medal for a coil pot and elephant; 2nd Cecilia Ceja; 3rd Sandra Magana; Honorable Mention was for a Group Project/USA.Computer or Graphic Arts: Gold Medal to Angel Moreno for the Santa Paula Centennial Poster; 2nd Justin Echavarria; 3rd Carlos Alonso.Fine Arts: Gold Medals in a tie for the aforementioned Nikki Dryden for “Eye” and Vicky Torres for her self-portrait; another tie for 2nd place to Jose Navarro and Brandon Morales; 3rd, again a tie, Jacky Parades and Carlos Ramirez; and Honorable Mentions to Lorraine Velasquez, Jacky Parades and Jesse Lira.“Hey, there was too much of a good thing!” said judge Klement about all the Fine Arts awards.The exhibit will continue through July 21. For more information contact the COM at 933-0076.
Las Medallas de Oro: SPUHS student art dazzles at unique museum exhibit
June 30, 2002
Santa Paula News
Santa Paula High School art students show remarkable talents that earned many gold medals at the 4th annual Las Medallas de Oro Art Exhibit, which opened at June 2nd at the California Oil Museum.
The opening reception, hosted by Hozy’s Santa Paula Grill, was attended by students and their families, SPUHS teachers Mariann Romero and Ellen Park, art judges (professionals in the art world) as well as art lovers and supporters.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesSanta Paula High School art students show remarkable talents that earned many gold medals at the 4th annual Las Medallas de Oro Art Exhibit, which opened at June 2nd at the California Oil Museum.The opening reception, hosted by Hozy’s Santa Paula Grill, was attended by students and their families, SPUHS teachers Mariann Romero and Ellen Park, art judges (professionals in the art world) as well as art lovers and supporters.All were enthralled with the dazzling display of art that includes ceramics, computer arts (including wonderful stationary), graphic arts and fine arts, the latter done in charcoal, pencil and ink, marking pen, chalk and oil pastel.Added to the art works are student “at work” photos and comments on what their art means to them: “It’s a beautiful experience,” noted Virginia Torres, also know as Vicky who took the Gold Medal - Las Medallas de Oro - for her haunting acrylic self-portrait.“Art is. . . an appreciation and celebration of yourself,” notes Jillian Carricaburu, and the artist’s wonderful and wild colored pencil works prove her words.“My favorite part of the art show? The food!” proclaims the comment by Nikki Dryden, who also garnered a Gold Medal for her dramatic watercolor, “Eye.”Social and international messages are the theme of many works while others who excel in ceramics often celebrate the whimsical with masks, vases, animals and boxes. Collages are bold while imagination and practicality is at the forefront with such items as an artful CD case.Peck, who teaches computer art, noted that students try their best when it comes to art, “even if they’re not the most talented, they really try. It’s a real confidence builder.”“It’s wonderful for the students to look at their artwork and say ‘That’s mine, I did that!’ That’s my favorite thing,” said fine arts teacher Romero.“It’s a great pleasure to say this a fourth annual student art show,” said Museum Executive Director Mike Nelson, who noted a grant from the Timmons Foundation makes the annual show possible. “It’s wonderful that the students can exhibit their fine work in a museum setting. And it’s important that the museum be a part of the community.”
