WATSONVILLE — From the moment people are born, they have the potential to create great art. The preschoolers today scribbling abstract shapes on construction paper with crayon are already getting a head start on utilizing their artistic skills, and at least one of them could one day be the next Pablo Picasso.
Along the way, there are art classes for all grade levels — especially in Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools — to help refine those skills and allow students to discover their passions and express themselves creatively. Some of their most recent efforts are displayed all throughout the Watsonville Civic Plaza. The district hosted an opening ceremony Wednesday with several students present.
The Annual Art Exhibition showcases hundreds of works by Pajaro Valley Unified students ranging from transitional kindergarteners to high school seniors, by displaying them throughout the plaza for up to a year. The works are displayed in three locations: the Watsonville Public Library, the third floor of the Watsonville courthouse and the top level of the plaza, not only outside the City Council Chambers but also sprinkled throughout the city administrative offices.
The works come in a variety of forms: watercolors, charcoal drawings, photographs, collages, mixed media and so on. Students took photos of such locales as the Venetian Court in Capitola, East Cliff Drive in Pleasure Point and a cherry blossom growing in a cemetery. Students also created portraits of everything from Frida Kahlo to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and lots and lots of dogs and cats.
Art teachers were given the opportunity to direct their students to work on projects over the course of a few months. Itzel Vega, a visual and performing arts teacher at Landmark Elementary School, said discussions typically begin at the start of the academic year with the other art teachers.
“We talk about collecting specific art that we would like for our students to represent our school with,” she said. “Throughout the year, we start collecting different projects, and then we all get together and curate what projects start going together.”
Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Watsonville City officials pose with students featured in the district’s Annual Art Exhibition during an opening ceremony. (Nick Sestanovich — Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Vega selected a lot of collages from her first and second grade students.
“We’ve been working a lot on collaging and creating new things with different pieces of paper, different textures,” she said. “That’s something I wanted to bring here for our school.”
Aleyda Carrillo, a Landmark first grader, excitedly showed off her collage to her older sister Melina Carrillo-Lopez, also a Landmark student. Aleyda used construction paper and crayons to create an image of a crowned pink brontosaurus stomping through a city as a helicopter and birds fly overhead and the sun sports shades. Melina asked her sister why the brontosaurus was wearing a crown, and Aleyda responded, “Because he’s the king of the dinosaurs!” Melina also pointed out that the horizontal view of the birds looked like open books, to which Aleyda responded, “They’re book birds!”
Aleyda told the Sentinel that initially, the dinosaur she created was too tall to fit on the paper without the sauropod’s enormously long neck sticking up too high, but she was able to solve it by pasting the dinosaur’s head to the side of its neck rather than on top and giving it a crown to fill out the empty space. She has played with the dino theme in other works, including a piece where a kid is riding a similarly crowned dinosaur who likes burgers, a play on Burger King.
Aleyda liked that the art is silly and allows her to be creative.
“It makes my brain move,” she said.
Kerry Gil’s students at Aptos Junior High School created abstract watercolor landscapes. Dylan Craddock, an eighth grader who used brick-like shapes to create an oceanside, said she liked the creativity of making art.
Vega said she enjoyed seeing older students’ art, pointing to a section where students created pictures of flowers out of foil.
“I’ve talked to some of the teachers that are doing these projects and wondering how I could possibly adapt it to elementary school,” she said. “It’s really cool to see all these different projects and get some ideas.”
Vega hopes her students feel represented and also view what their futures in art could be.
“They can see all the cool stuff they can do once they reach middle school and high school,” she said.
In a ceremony, Deepika Srivastava — director of the district’s science, technology, engineering, art and math program — said the event was all about celebrating the talent and artistic voice of students throughout the Pajaro Valley.
“Every piece tells a story, reflects student identity and represents the imagination, hard work and passion of our students,” she said.
Superintendent Heather Contreras said it was an event she looks forward to every year.
“We have incredibly gifted students from our littlest learners all the way to our students who are leaving us; students who have gotten scholarships for their artistic endeavors,” she said.
Carol Turley, Pajaro Valley school board president, said art was more than just a subject in school.
“It is a powerful form of expression, storytelling, culture and connection,” she said. “I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our student artists for sharing their creativity and voice with our community.”
Maria Orozco, Watsonville City Council member, said when the council adopted the city’s first Public Art Master Plan last year, it was with students in mind.
“You’re going to be the future leaders of tomorrow, and we want to make sure that you have that resource available to you,” she said.
The Watsonville Civic Plaza is located at 275 Main St.
