Programs + Events

Visual Arts

Accessible Arts Division (Pre-K to 5th)

Jose Drake
Title: Belonging
Grade: 5
Providencia Elementary PTA (First District)
“This is a picture of my family. The family is together and it is a nice day.”

Accessible Arts Division (6th to 12th)

Breanna Mariano
Title: Waves of Belonging
Grade: 11
Simi Valley High PTSA (Twelfth District)
“I belong when I am surfing and at the beach. I like the feeling of freedom. The hands in the heart shape represents my love for the beach. The sunset represents the warm feeling I get when I am surfing.”		 Visual Arts Titled Waves of Belonging

Primary Division (Pre-K-Grade 2)

Mivaan Shah
Title: Unique Cultures
Grade: 2
Richard Henry Lee Elementary PTA (Fourth District)
“I drew a picture of different people from different cultures in little parts. I have always been bullied and people have hurt my feelings because of where and what culture I come from. Drawing this picture helps me express that no matter what culture and background we come from, we are all one, and each piece plays a different part in our lives.”

Intermediate Division (Grades (3-5)

Joesph Kotowski
Title: Jerry: The Dog that Belongs
Grade: 5
Margaret R. Sellers Elementary School PTA (First District)
“Meet Jerry, our golden retriever. We adopted him from a rescue when he was five, and ever since he has been a part of our family. He has always been loved and cared for and belongs to us. In the picture I show his adoption cake, a toy he got the day we adopted him. I used charcoal so I could focus on his features and the light and shadows. The hardest part to work on was the rope because of the different knots and colors. It is his favorite toy, so I wanted to include it.“		 Visual Arts Image

Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)

Lena Kim
Title: Unbroken
Grade: 8
Oxford Academy PTSA (Fourth District)
“As a person grows, we often find ourselves in new environments that can heal us or break us. Those decisions and mistakes in life inevitably shape who and where we are. In a sea of water where tides can change, representing life, the person reflects at fragments of various communities. Even in unbearable times, you are always and will always belong somewhere in this world where they will accept you, and most importantly you will accept yourself. You can’t mold yourself into pieces. But, you can find pieces that belong to you.”

High School Division (Grades 9-12)

Aishwarya Jain
Title: Pride in My Hands
Grade: 11
Adrian C. Wilcox High PTSA (Sixth District)
“Indian traditions have shaped me, and one, out of many, I cherish is eating Indian food with my hands, whether in a fancy restaurant or at home—a practice rooted in Ayurveda and my heritage. Living in America, a country with norms distinct from India, I embrace my identity rather than conforming. This piece reflects how balancing both cultures creates belonging without losing oneself. My artwork captures a moment in an Indian restaurant where I eat with my hands while others use cutlery. Circular motifs/warm colors convey wholeness, showing that I belong in America without abandoning my Indian identity.“		 Visual Arts Image