Sakura Color Products of America, Inc. Announces Elementary School Student Winners of Twelfth Annual Cray-Pas Oil Pastel Contest
U. S. and Canadian elementary school students participated in the twelfth annual "The Wonderful, Colorful World of Cray-Pas® 2007 Contest". Nine winners awarded out of 150 finalists yielded from nearly 4,000 entries. The winner's pictures, including the 150 finalists, will be on display at the Hayward Area Forum of the Arts Sun Gallery from February 8th to May 25th, 2007. The finalist's artwork is posted on Sakura's online art gallery at: www. sakuraofamerica. com, and on the Oil Pastel Society website: www. oilpastelsociety. com.
Hayward, CA (PRWEB) February 23, 2007
U. S. and Canadian elementary school students participated in the twelfth annual "The Wonderful, Colorful World of Cray-Pas® 2007 Contest". Art teachers eagerly anticipated the results announced today by Sakura Color Products of America, Inc. (Sakura).
Sakura encourages art teachers in three grade categories; Kindergarten - Second, Third - Fifth, and Sixth - Eighth, to have students create and submit artwork using its Cray-Pas® oil pastels for contest judging. The entries ranged from self-portraits, family life, to favorite animal illustrations. For the first time a representative of the Oil Pastel Society was among the professional artists and art educators that participated in the six member judging panel. The winner's pictures, including the one hundred and fifty finalists, will be on display at the Hayward Area Forum of the Arts Sun Gallery from February 8th to May 25th, 2007. The finalist's artwork is posted on Sakura's online art gallery at: www. sakuraofamerica. com, and on the Oil Pastel Society website: www. oilpastelsociety. com.
Prizes:
Students awarded first place in each category will receive a $200 savings bond, and a one year membership in the Oil Pastel Society. Teachers and students both will receive a shirt imprinted with the winning artwork, an award certificate, products and gift certificates supplied by participating sponsors, and a generous supply of Sakura art materials and writing instruments.
Prizes to be presented to students during Youth Art Month observed in March.
"The bold, bright colors, and expressive energy demonstrated by these student artists astounded the judges! We were amazed at how well the students used the wide variety of techniques, textures, and blending that oil pastels provide," said Julia Reed, contest administrator and marketing assistant for Sakura Color Products of America, Inc.
Winners:
Benjamin Walters, from Sonoma Elementary School located in Modesto, CA, and his art entitled "The Cool Cats" won first place in kindergarten through second grade category. First place in the third through fifth grade category was awarded to Priyank Das of the Sharron Art Center of Piscataway, New Jersey for her "Untitled" piece. Michael Tsang, of the Jiao Ying Chinese Culture and Art school of Tigard, Oregon, won first place in the six through eighth grade category for his artwork entitled "In a Dream". The winners list for all placing and honorable mentions is attached in a pdf file.
Sponsors:
Sponsors included Arts & Activities, ArtWare by You, American Artist magazine, Blick art materials, C Thru, General Pencil Company, McAllister's Art Supplies, Meninger Company, Michaels Arts and Crafts Store®, Nasco, Oil Pastel Society, Sax Arts & Crafts, Schoolarts, Silver Brush limited, Star Products, Teaching PreK-8, and Triarco® Arts and Crafts, Inc.
World Awareness Children's Museum in Glens Falls, New York will select 300 to 500 pieces for its annual International Youth Art Exchange Program.
Background:
Cray-Pas oil pastels were invented over 81 years ago in Japan to bring a professional-quality art material to children at an affordable price. Cray-Pas is available in three different levels that support an artist from young student to professional levels: Junior Artist®, Expressionist® and Specialist®.
Sakura Color Products of America, Inc. is committed to the development of writing instruments and artistic mediums that empowers individual self-expression, creativity and to enhance communication. The company is headquartered in Hayward, CA. and is the U. S. subsidiary of privately held, Sakura Color Products Corporation of Osaka, Japan. Sakura also manufactures the popular Gelly Roll® gel pen, Pigma® Micron fine-line pens, as well as many other high-quality writing instruments and art materials.
Www. sakuraofamerica. com
Sun Gallery is a nonprofit visual arts organization supported in part by The City of Hayward Members of Sun Gallery, HARD, Sakura of America, Health Unlimited of America, Wells Fargo Foundation CAC, the Museum Institute, East Bay Foundation, ANG Newspapers and Alameda County Arts Commission.
Www. sungallery. org
The Oil Pastel Society is an international organization of artists seeking to further the advancement of oil pastels as a fine art medium through the promotion of workshops and competitions. www. oilpastelsociety. com
The mission of the World Awareness Children's Museum is to foster knowledge and appreciation of world cultures and is committed to using art conceived through the eyes of children to promote peace and understanding among people of the world. www. worldchildrensmuseum. org
Media Contact:
Julia Reed,
Sakura Color Products of America
Toll Free: 800-776-6257 x126
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