ArtsFest Celebrates Art In Madera County

MADERA – The first Madera County ArtsFest will be held on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free family-friendly event will promote art in Madera County in a carnival-type atmosphere.

Madera County Schools Foundation and Madera County Office of Education are hosting the event at Madera County Office of Education.

Children will be able to participate in hands-on art activities consisting of decorating flower pots, creating collages, painting rocks and necklaces and drawing chalk murals.

The event will feature live art demonstrations and an outdoor performance stage. Performers include Angel Republic, Baile Folclórico and Las Mujeres Zapotecas.

Free snow cones and popcorn will be provided, Oakhurst Mountain Lions Club will be selling hot dogs, and Papa Murphy’s Pizza and Taqueria Maranatha will have food booths.

More than 100 students from 14 schools in Madera County participated in an art contest this spring, and artwork from students in kindergarten through high school will be displayed in a student art gallery at the event.

“We are very excited about this new adventure called ‘ArtsFest,'” said Cecilia Massetti, Ed.D., Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “The artwork submitted by students from throughout Madera County demonstrate the talents of our students and high quality and excellence of school site programs!”

Students competed in separate divisions: K-3rd grade, 4th-6th grade, 7th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. They were also judged in separate categories: 2-dimensional art, 3-dimentional art and still photography.

Winners include:

K-3 2-dimensional

1^st The Ants Who Stole the Picnic Rebekah Thiessen Mountain Home Charter

2^nd The Rainbow World Dyami Gonzalez Berenda Elementary

3^rd The Japanese Painting Gregorio Gallegos Berenda Elementary

4-6 Still Photography

1^st Lily of “The Valley” Trenton Engelman Sierra View Elementary

4-6 2-dimensional

1^st Angel Sister, Demon Brother Rachel Peterson Berenda Elementary

2^nd Asian Sunset Taylor Hyer Berenda Elementary

3^rd The Eye That Sees Only Color Celeste Alvarez Berenda Elementary

7-8 Still Photography

1^st Red Megan Gentry Ranchos Middle

2^nd Playful Elephant Emily Koop Ranchos Middle

3^rd Pink Beauty Ryan Shaw Ranchos Middle

7-8 2-dimensional

1^st Sunset of Many Colors Aspen Poodry Ranchos Middle

2^nd Da Stormtrooper Adrian Perezchica Ranchos Middle

3^rd Da Fish Miguel Duran Ranchos Middle

7-8 3-dimensional

1^st Tower Color Shannon Chavez Ranchos Middle

2^nd Spikes Ethan Erickson Ranchos Middle

9-12 Still Photography

1^st God’s Baby Elizabeth Arteaga Enterprise Secondary

9-12 2-dimensional

1^st Legolas Nathan Nungaray Madera South High

2^nd Moje Wedrowk: Umystu, Podzielony (My Wandering Mind, Divided)

Laurel Samuelson Chawanakee Academy

3^rd The Caught Jaguar Abraham Thorne Liberty High

9-12 3-dimensional

1^st Kickin’ It Justin Chase Liberty High

2^nd Companion Cube Nash Bryant Minarets High

3^rd Mermaid Jordan DeAnda Madera High

Honorable mention awards will also be awarded to students, and everyone will receive a certificate of participation.

The Arts Council is a partner of ArtsFest and will provide art demonstrators, hands-on art booth volunteers and help in the art gallery.

“Please join us for a morning immersed in music, crafts, food and fun!” said Massetti.

The public is invited to attend the event. Door prizes will be awarded. Madera County Office of Education is located at 1105 S. Madera Avenue. For more information please call Kristi Winter at 559-662-3873.