2,800 Clark County elementary students submit entries to 21st annual “Where I Live” school arts exhibition

For more than two decades, Clark County School District elementary students have looked forward to the call for submissions to the Nevada Housing Division’s (NHD) “Where I Live” art contest.  Every fall, students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to submit artwork depicting where they live now, or a place they would like to call home. 

More than 2,800 Clark County students submitted entries this year, a significant increase over previous years and far surpassing the 800 submissions received in the program’s first year.  What started as an exhibition reception has been modified to a contest format resulting in 200 juried artworks displayed at the reception with 13 finalists selected by the contest judges.

Winners of this year’s contest were announced during NHD’s Where I Live School Arts Exhibition and Reception at the Venetian Hotel and Casino on December 7.  Awards for grand prize, first, second and third place, along with nine judge’s choice awards were announced at the reception made possible by the generosity of the Sands Cares Foundation.  

The winners of this year’s art contest are:

• Grand Prize: Mia Carrier, Darnell Elementary- 5^th grade
• First Place: Ada Wood, Dean Allen Elementary- 5^th grade
• Second Place: Jayleen Delgado, Ronzone Elementary- 2^nd grade
• Third Place: Chloe Ross, Glen Taylor Elementary- 5^th grade

Judges’ Choice: Paul Gutierrez, Elizondo- 3^rd grade; Landon O’Farrell, Vanderburg- 2^nd grade; Joseph Barlow, Tomiyasu- 1^st grade; Alysen Prince, Wilhelm- Kindergarten; Aaliah Ramos, Cozine- 3^rd grade; Blake Kravitz, Dean Allen- 1^st grade; Sophia Allison, Selma Bartlett- 4^th grade; Alyssa Pitts, Christensen- Kindergarten

“It is truly amazing to experience the energy created by collectively coming together to celebrate the unique treasure of hope carried inside of every child, displayed through their art. A father of one young artist stopped to say thank you and express how much it meant to him that this positive, confidence-building attention was being paid to his son and all the children at the event,” said NHD Deputy Administrator Tim Whitright.  This was a privilege, a great reward and so much fun for every child, parent, family member, teacher and supporting partner.”

The 13 finalist’s artwork will be featured in the 2018 Where I Live calendar published by the Nevada Housing Division, with the grand prize winner’s artwork displayed on the cover.  In addition, event supporter Blick Art Materials donated gift cards, gift bags and custom frames to the 13 aspiring young artists. Contest artwork will be on display at the Spring Valley Library Art Gallery from January 30 through April 3, 2018.

The contest, exhibition and awards were made possible with the on-going support of community partners and sponsors including: Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s Sands Cares Foundation, CCSD School-Community Partnership Program, Blick Art Materials and the Nevada Housing Division.

 About the Nevada Housing Division

Our mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities and improve the quality of life for Nevada residents. Nevada Housing Division (NHD), a division of the State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry, was created by the Nevada State Legislature in 1975. NHD is committed to making Nevada a better place to live and work. We connect Nevadans with homes by providing financing to developers to build affordable apartment homes, by providing innovative mortgage solutions, and by making more homes energy efficient, thereby lowering utility expenses. To learn more, visit www.housing.nv.gov.

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