St. Peter’s Boasts More National Art Contest Winners
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jul 8, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Flag Day contest, sponsored by Catholic Life Insurance, lists winning entries as “judges’ favorites”
St. Peter’s Memorial School once again has two more art contest winners to add to its roster of champions. Both 1st grader Mauricio Vidaurri and 3rd grader Luis Angel Campos won second place in their respective categories in the Catholic Life Insurance 2011 Flag Day Poster Contest. The annual contest celebrates the American flag.
“This is such an honor for our school and for these students, who worked especially hard to create such masterpieces that not only incorporated the theme of the contest, but also demonstrate the values and incorporate the many lessons they receive here at St. Peter’s,” said Dr. Linda Marie Garcia Mitchell, principal of the historic 77-year old school.
This year, the contest asked contestants to draw their favorite place in the United States, while incorporating the flag into the drawing.
Mauricio’s entry showed a happy scene in a backyard pool, with the artist and his cousin swimming in the pool, reflecting the flag, and his mother perched on the pool ledge, holding a glass of lemonade, while an American flag on the flag pole, cast its shadow on the house. With an amazing detail for scale and color, Mauricio captured the images, done in map pencil and markers in lively fashion as they jump off the page in a celebration of family and the flag.
Mauricio’s Mauricio’s favorite place depicts his grandmother’s house in Laredo, where he enjoys swimming and being with his family. Aside from drawing and painting, Mauricio plays soccer, competes in tae kwon do and is in a math club.
Third grader Luis had a dazzling, 3-D inspired entry that represented his favorite family vacation spot: South Padre Island. The painting, done in acrylic and water color, showcases a solitary, yet colorful beach chair and towel on the beach, complete with seashells and star fish, and at closer inspection, a texture that makes the sand on the beach seem real, gritty and sparkly, just like the sand on the beach. Tied to the chair is a kite, a kite in the shape of the United States represented by the American flag. The kite is literally flying off the page, as the strings holding the kite is black yarn fastened to the chair and the kite, which is raised slightly, giving it the real look of blowing in the wind. The kite itself had an amazing artistic approach, made of a newspaper basket-weave design, and then painted in rich red , white and blue acrylic paint, making the flag colors a very dominant feature of the picture. However, it is the bejeweled stars attached to the flag that catch the light and shine, adding the finishing touch to the painted scene and transporting one instantly to a real beach.
Luis, who also enjoys drawing and painting, credits his art teacher at St. Peter’s with helping him to improve in his artwork. He enjoys his dog and playing video games, and being outside on his scooter or playing basketball.
Mauricio won 2nd place in Division A: K-1st; Luis won 2nd place in Division B: 2nd-3rd.
Mauricio attended the award ceremony in San Antonio on June 14 and was really excited and proud to be represented among the 18 winners selected from the 640 entries from Texas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. At the ceremony, Mauricio was impressed by the huge American flag that was flown, as well as the patriotic band that was playing. He was called to the stage where he was presented with a certificate and a $100 check, as well as a T-shirt. Luis, who did not receive his award letter in time to attend, also received a certificate, a $100 check and a T-shirt. His entry, along with his classmate’s and the other winners, will be published in a magazine.
St. Peter’s Memorial School is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Laredo. First established in 1925, the school was run under the auspices of the Ursuline Sisters until 1968, and then the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco. Now part of the Catholic Diocese of Laredo, the school offers classes from level K3 through 8th grade and typically serves approximately 150 students each year.
