By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer

Assemblyman Tom Lackey of the 34th Assembly District is sponsoring an art contest for California students with the theme “My California.” This is open to students in grades K-12 and Special Education who are attending school during the 2023-2024 school year and who reside in the assemblyman’s district.

Because of recent redistricting, Lackey is separating the judging into four regions; the mountain communities are in Region 4, so they compete against the other mountain communities from Big Bear to Crestline.

Artwork may be landscapes, portraits or a still life that exemplify the “My California”  theme. All art must be original creations, with no tracing, and completely produced by the students without the use of computers.

The winning artwork will be displayed in the Assemblyman’s offices and at the state capitol. All artists must adhere to the stated theme and it be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11 with the application form.

“I am looking forward to seeing the Golden State through the eyes of the students,” Assemblyman Lackey said.

This contest will only accept these mediums: oil, acrylics, watercolor paintings and drawings in pencil, colored pencil, ink, marker, fixed pastel or fixed charcoal or mixed medias combining two of the previously mentioned art forms. Artwork size must be either 8 x 10 inches or 11 x 14 inches for framing purposes and, if using canvas, use the board canvas – no stretcher bar canvas due to framing restrictions.

It is important that no identifying signatures or marks appear on the front of the artwork. Student information should be identified on the lower left corner of the back of the artwork and should include name, school, grade, category and region, printed carefully in pencil. A student information and release form must also be submitted with a signature from a parent or guardian if the student is under 18. Please do not fold, roll or staple any entry. Teachers or schools that wish to have their students participate may set an earlier deadline date to enable the artworks to arrive in Big Bear in time. All students who enter this contest will receive a certificate from Assemblyman Lackey.

The top three chosen winners in each category will be presented at the 34th Assembly District student art show, which will be held in each region, with the dates and places to be announced. At the regional shows, there will be first- to third-place winners in each category and then districtwide winners will be chosen from the top winners from each region.

During the art shows, the winners in each category will be announced. These shows will be open to all participants and their families; tickets will be available at no charge but will be required for admittance.

Artwork for mountain Region 4 should be sent or delivered to: City of Big Bear Lake, 39707 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315.

Please call the Assemblyman’s district office with questions about this contest at (661) 267-7636. See the Assemblyman’s website, https://ad34.asmrc.org/,  for further details and for the application form and detailed submittal directions.