By Krista Roberts
Staff Writer
The Parent Teacher Student Association’s Reflections Art contest is currently accepting submissions for this year’s theme, “Together We Can.” All submissions for the contest are due Nov. 16.
Each year, the PTSA Reflections program encourages students to submit artwork inspired by a specific theme. Themes are selected from ideas submitted by students to the PTSA Reflections program theme search. Past themes include “If I Could Give the World a Gift…,” “A Different Kind of Hero,” and, “I Can Make a Difference by…”, as well as last year’s theme, “Beauty is…”.
“‘Beauty is…’ was a very cool theme. I especially enjoyed it because it is always nice to write a song that makes someone appreciate the world they live in. In my opinion, that was what my song, ‘Life is Beautiful’ did,” Costa alumnus and first-place music composition finisher Marissa Smith said.
The categories for the contest are art, photography, film, literature, musical composition and dance choreography.
“I submitted a video last year, and a photo the year before. I liked how it was a chance to do something creative. I’m submitting this year,” sophomore Bryce Wong said.
Students are divided into four categories: preschool to second grade, third grade to fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through tenth grade.
All entries are judged on artistic merit, creativity, mastery of the medium and interpretation of the theme. The Reflection program judges consider concept to be more important than technique.
“Whenever there is a tie, the tiebreaker is based on who did a better job of interpreting the theme. A lot of artwork could be connected to this year’s theme,” Reflections coordinator Janine Madrid said.
Madrid is in charge of selecting the judges for the contest. There is one judge for each category, except photography and visual art, which each have three.
“We have great judges. I make a rubric for each of the judges to use for this process. In competitive categories like visual art and photography the judges can never agree on a winner. The rubric helps to determine a winner better,” Madrid said.
Applicants compete within the school district, and winners are sent to compete at the local and state levels. Artwork that wins at the state level will be sent to compete nationally. National winners will be announced in spring 2011. Cash awards are given to winners and their PTSA’s.
“Its topic doesn’t make me feel as if it’s just another homework assignment,” senior Yuxin Ouyang said. “Instead, it poses a chance to dive into my inner recesses to find out what’s there and what’s not. And who knows, you just might find something that reminds you that you’re capable of much more than you thought.”
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