Local Student’s Artwork on Mayor’s Plate to Join Celebrated Artists’ Contributions to Empty Bowls
Written by admin, Aug 2, 2012, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
For the past several years, City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas he has been asked to provide a painted plate to help the South Texas Food Bank’s most prestigious fundraiser, the Empty Bowls gala which features plates, bowls, and platters painted by famous and local artists and celebrities, to represent the emptiness of plates, bowls and platters of Laredo’s hungry families. For tomorrow’s event, Mayor Salinas asked a promising young artist to illustrate his platter. Vanessa Sigrist, a soon to be an 8th grader at St. Peter’s Memorial School, was asked by Mayor Salinas to bring his platter to life.
“I was blown away be her artwork,” said Mayor Salinas, when he saw her drawing during a recent presentation at a City Council meeting and Sigrist and her fellow classmates from the historic downtown school were recognized for winning a national art contest.
“I felt that her artwork would capture the color, spirit, and most of all, hopefulness I wanted to convey in my plate,” said Mayor Salinas.
He contacted the school and young Sigrist met with Mayor Salinas, listening to him to get direction and input on what images he wanted on the plate. After a couple of drafts, the final design was chosen and when the plate was presented to Mayor Salinas, he knew he had a winner.
“The plate is so beautiful and it absolutely represents not only the images of Laredo, which I wanted, but also, something completely unexpected, the idea of the future of our great city, seen in the faces of young children. I am so proud of the plate and even prouder of Vanessa, a talented and respectful young lady. I encourage you all to bid on this plate and try to get a Vanessa Sigrist original before she becomes a world-renowned artist; she is that talented.”
The platter features images well-known to Laredoans: the seven flags with the American and Texas flags dominating the space. Familiar landscapes, including the bridge, San Agustin Cathedral and soon-to-be familiar Uni-Trade Stadium are also part of the scene, all painted in acrylic. According to Salinas, he wanted the plate to represent Laredo and Texas with iconic images.
It was the added touches by the artist, including the bright colored background, the green detail, and the faces of children which give the plate a youthful, hopeful feel, as if Laredo’s past will be carried on through Laredo children.
Indeed, art is something very important to Sigrist, who hopes to study art once she heads off to college. For now, local contests and this opportunity are enough.
“I was so proud and honored to be asked by Mayor Salinas to be the one to bring his plate to life, especially, to be able to do so representing my school of St. Peter’s” said Sigrist. “I hope people like it and I hope it brings in money for the South Texas Food Bank.”
To bid on this plate, or any of the other plates that are in this year’s Empty Bowls auction, contact the Laredo Energy Arena at www.ticketmaster.com for ticket price information for the event.
