DEL MAR — Sixty-three pieces of art created by student artists were on display at the Del Mar Youth Art Show from Jan. 31 through Feb. 1 at the Del Mar City Hall.
This is the second year for the Youth Del Mar Art Show, which is presented by the Del Mar Arts Advisory Committee. The theme this year, “Our Precious Earth,” displayed 2D and 3D artwork by the local youth.
Arts Advisory Committee Chair Bonnie Grossman said she found the inspiration for the theme at a previously attended art show to create recognition within a younger generation to take responsibility for the earth.
“A show at Del Mar Hills inspired me to help make children aware of the importance of taking care of our planet,” Grossman said.
Each day of the show displayed additional aspects and performances related to the theme and had an individual sponsor.
The Del Mar Foundation sponsored lemonade and cookies on Jan. 31 and Canyon Crest High School did a dance performance related to celebrating the earth.
Grossman said that the goal with incorporating a local dance group into the show was to show that dance and fine art are equivalent.
“Fine art and dance use the same principle of lines, spaces, geometry, color and composition,” Grossman said.
The second day, Feb. 1, was sponsored by Sandcastle Tales Children’s Bookshop, which involved a local geographer reading various books about art and its representation of the earth and its geography.
Local geographer, mother and bird watcher Elise Esprit dressed in a Mother Earth costume and read books from Sandcastle Tales Children’s Bookshop. Esprit said that because of her passion for sharing the world of geography, she could not pass up the opportunity to share the incorporation of geography and art.
“I love geography,” Esprit said. “I love to spread the word. I think it is such a good mix, art and geography, so I took it on.”
Upon entering the art show, one of the first pieces on display was a drawing of the earth being held by hands, which was titled “Mother’s Touch,” by Ruby Gao, 13.
David Vargas was attending the farmers market when he discovered the art show. Vargas said he was interested in the art representing the earth and “Mother’s Touch” by Ruby caught his eye.
“(I) was down at the farmers market and came up to use the bathroom,” Vargas said. “I was interested in the art. The picture with the earth and the hands (‘Mother’s Touch’) hit me.”
Each art piece was created by students from various local schools ranging from elementary to high schools.
One of the high school artists, Lucy Shen, 13, has been painting since she was 5. Shen painted a picture of Venice called “City of Lights.”
“I saw photos of Venice and I thought it would be fun to draw it … It feels like I really accomplished something,” Shen said.
Second-grader, Vincent Wu, 8, was also featured in the art show. He did an acrylic illustration of ice-covered mountains.
“(I painted) an icy mountain because I like nature, because it is beautiful,” Vincent said.
The Del Mar Arts Advisory Committee, according to Grossman, is already thinking about the Youth Art Show for next year. Further information regarding its upcoming events can be found on the city website at http://www.delmar.ca.us/619/Arts-Advisory-Committee
