Sierra Vista Middle School student's artwork to be featured at upcoming festival

Every year, the Imagination Celebration arts festival picks a single piece of student artwork to feature in its promotional posters. This year’s official design, selected from among 500 submissions, was created by none other than Kira Wong, an eighth-grader from Sierra Vista Middle School. In making their decision, judges cited Kira’s work as a striking reflection of the 2011 theme, “Let Your Imagination Soar.” (To read the official news release, click here.)

Kira will receive a $300 honorarium for submitting the winning entry – it's pictured to the right – while her teacher, Colleen Cosgrove, will receive $200 for classroom art supplies. Runners-up from Capistrano Valley High School, Beckman High and La Quinta High will each receive a $50 honorarium. “Each one of these pieces was worthy of recognition, and the overall quality of work submitted this year was quite impressive, which made the award decision very difficult,” said Patricia Wayne, director of programs and education for Arts Orange County. “We saw many more digital art pieces submitted this year, which points to how technology and the arts work together to stimulate creativity.” Presented by Arts Orange County in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, Imagination Celebration is an annual festival for children and families, showcasing theatre, dance, music and film, as well as literary and visual arts. Dozens of events are scheduled from April 29 through May 29 in more than 20 Orange County cities.