Youth art contest crowns winners

"Family Name" by Jonathan Silva.

By Travis Andersen
Town Correspondent

About 100 children let their imaginations run wild in the second annual Urban Art Competition at Lincoln Commons, an event backed by the nonprofit Youth ACT and other sponsors.

"It turned out really well," said Mai Du, cofounder of Youth ACT.

On June 20 and again last Saturday, youths painted for three hours on 40 canvasses, working with relish, according to Du.

"The event is meant to support youth and their artistic expressions," she said in an e-mail. "For many, it has been this strong desire to visually acknowledge their existence and express their identity."

A three-judge panel of local artists chose the first, second, and third-prize winners, whose work will hang in the 2009 Urban Art Exhibit at the First Parish in Malden, Universalist.

First prize went to Malden resident Jonathan Silva, who painted an S with arrows "to declare that his family and heritage will live on forever," Du said. He titled the piece "Family Name."

"True Friendship," by Maya Hayes and Grace Cappucio, took second prize. The Malden girls are best friends with dueling personalities, which their painting reflects.

"Maya likes blue and white so she used those colors," Du said. "Grace likes brighter and louder colors so she used lots of yellow, red, and oranges."

Nguyen Le, of Everett, won third prize with her painting "Leaving Emerald City." Prize winners took home $25 gift cards for Barnes & Noble and other stores, as well as trophies.

Four artists received honorable mention awards in for Most Creative; Most Inspiring; Most Likely to Be Famous; and the People's Choice.

Youth ACT - which according to its website promotes "peace, justice, health, and green space" - launched the contest with several groups, including the Friends of the Oak Grove, Inc.

Du called the contest "a fine example of how community can come together to make things happen when there are caring adults and [youth] with a collective vision for a good purpose."