We have some talented artists in our community and the Goleta Creek Week Art Contest is proof. More than 100 people gathered in the Goleta Valley Library’s Community Room on September 26 for a Reception to find out the winners of the 3rd Annual Creek Week Art Contest. An impressive 114 people participated in the contest, submitting a piece of art using this year’s theme “Goleta the Goodland: Ocean, Creeks and Watersheds.” The submissions included a wide array of different mediums including paint, watercolor, photography, collages, mixed media, fabric, and more.
Mayor Paula Perotte and guest judge Kelly Hildner with the Goleta Valley Art Association had the difficult job of selecting the winners.
Mayor Perotte said, “I had such a wonderful time looking at all the submissions. We have some incredible artists right here in Goleta!”
Kelly Hildner said, “It was a true honor to serve as a juror for the Creek Week Art Contest. The creativity and quality of the artwork were exceptional, and there were so many deserving pieces that I wished I could have given more awards. Every artist should feel proud to have their work showcased in this impressive exhibition highlighting Goleta the Goodland.”
The judging was based on relevance to the theme, overall appearance, and originality.
Here are the 2024 Creek Week Art Contest Winners:
Children (6th grade and below)
- 1st Place – Aishani Mishra
- 2nd Place – Josephine Johnson
- 3rd Place – Anaya Rana Springer
- Honorable Mention – Jacob Teich
Teens (7th -12th grade)
- 1st Place – April Harper
- 2nd Place – Andy Brennan
- 3rd Place – June McCrary
- Honorable Mention – Silbur Irwin
Adults (18+)
- 1st Place – Carol Dixon
- 2nd Place – Heather Frazier
- 3rd Place – Kristine Kelly
- Honorable Mention – Analise McCully
Out of the 114 submissions, 5th grade Isla Vista Elementary School student Ronnie Gloo won the People’s Choice Award. Her art piece was a customized LED-backlit shadow box holding three unique epoxy resin designs. She created this one-of-a-kind piece by combining what she learned about epoxy resin in Laguna Blanca’s Ocean Potion summer camp and about copper wire battery-powered LED lights in her 4th grade STEAM class with countless visits to Goleta beaches and UCSB’s REEF interactive aquarium. Everything you see is inspired by something you can find at our beaches, including seashells, sea glass, sand, and Monarch Butterflies.
Congrats to all the winners and thank you to everyone who participated.
Learn more about Goleta Valley Library and its programs by visiting www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org.
Above: People’s Choice award winner Ronnie Gloo with her submission
Close-up of the People’s Choice Award Winner’s (Ronnie Gloo) submission
Children’s category 1stt place winner Aishani Misha with her submission
Teen category 1st place artwork by April Harper
Adult category 1st place artwork by Carol Dixon
Reception attendees
Part of the team behind the Art Contest and Reception: City of Goleta’s Environmental Services Manager Melissa Nelson, Library Assistant Sharon Nigh, and Guest Judge Kelly Hildner