Every April TVAA hosts the All Tehachapi Youth Art Contest at Gallery 'N' Gifts and every year we're in awe of the beautiful submissions by our talented young artists. The talent and passion for art shown by these students is what drives members of TVAA to continue their work in raising funds to help support the artistic dreams of Tehachapi's youth.

Artisan Festivals, Silent Auctions, Photo Contests, Candy Sales and Chalk on the Walk are all fun community events which raise funds for high school art scholarships and art supply donations to local area schools. We feel it's important to foster creativity and are always trying to come up with new ideas to support and encourage artists of all ages. Interested in becoming a member of Tehachapi Valley Arts Association? Visit our "About Us" page!

Here's a list of the 2017 Youth Art Contest winners:

Best of Show, grades kindergarten through eighth: Cora Shea Sweeny

Best of Show, grades ninth through twelfth: Audi Alcaraz

 

Kindergarten, first and second grades:

1st place: Greta Haas

2nd place: Warren Woolf

3rd place: Summer Kitt

Honorable mention: McKay Pack

Third and fourth grades:

1st place: Katheryn Donnel

2nd place: Milo Pack

3rd place: Sadie DeVey

Honorable mention: Hailey Fitch

Fifth and sixth grades:

1st place: Grace Keller

2nd place: Naomi Donnel

3rd place: Su Pollard

Honorable mention: Kiera Judkins

Honorable mention: Sophia Kendrick

Seventh and eighth grades:

1st place: Natalie Whiteside

2nd place: Mikailey Judkins

3rd place: Jacqueline Torres

Honorable mention: Trinity Madden

Ninth through twelfth grades:

1st place: Christine Dieken

2nd place: Ethan Tenderholt

3rd place: Autumn Shackelford

Honorable mention: Glenn Reoyo

 

Tehachapi has an incredible amount of amazing photographic talent and a lot of it is on display for the month of February at Gallery 'N' Gifts for the 12 annual Photo Contest. With images ranging from prickly hedgehogs to amazing deep sea critters and photos from all over the world, fifty seven photographers bombarded the judges with 165 photo entries...and the winners are:

Best of Show: Susan Neiman

Animals: 1 Jessica Martin; 2 Adrian Walter; 3 Susan Miles; HM Anne McLean, Susan Neiman, Mikailey Judkins

Black & White: 1 Vincent Hernandez; 2 Heather Tingley; 3 Jennifer Selbrede; HM Caleb Weston, Thomas Medaris

Details & Macros: 1 Chris Naftel; 2 Vincent Hernandez; 3 Dennis Cowden; HM Chris Naftel

Flowers: 1 Joanne Hays; 2 Mikailey Judkins; 3 Ashley Coles; HM Chris Naftel

Landscape & Nature: 1 Susan Neiman; 2 Susan Neiman; 3 Jean Reisen; HM Christine Odom, Jennifer Selbrede

People: 1 Adrian Walter; 2 Thomas Medaris; 3 Heather Tingley; HM Jim Carmichael

Travel & Architecture: 1 Adrian Walter; 2 Jim Carmichael; 3 Hillorie Thomas; HM Jan Skaggs, Thomas Medaris

Youth Photography: 1 Kiera Judkins; 2 Rachel Stillman; 3 Grace Miller; HM Diana Partridge, Jeremy Cable

Chalk on the Walk was absolutely amazing this year! So many colorful artists and fun, vibrant works of art to go with them! It was nice to see so many participants in spite of the heat, but people were prepared with canopies, umbrellas, lots of sunscreen and cases of water. There were over 60 participants and loads of neat prizes! (Be sure to check out our album for more photos. They will also be posted on our website soon. www.galleryngifts.com) 
Before we get to the winners we absolutely have to thank event coordinator Michelle Miller and her team of judges and volunteers who helped make this event great! We’d also like to take this time to express our heartfelt appreciation for our numerous sponsors whomake this event possible with their generous support! Please be sure to thank and visit the following sponsors: Mountain Aire Estates, Tehachapi Candle Co, Lindsey Ornamental Iron, Monica's junk iron, Jake's Steakhouse, The Loop newspaper, Bear Valley Springs Cultural Arts Association, Guy & Diana Munday, Dessy & Dessy Law, Seanco Custom Wheelchairs, Front Porch Bakery, Skylark North Glider Flight School, Aerius Imagery, Michael Jones DDS, and Carol Miller, Realtor. 
We also had many prize donors who contributed to the fun with their awesome prizes. Thank you so much; Kohnen's, Albertsons, Kmart, Henry's Restaurant, 31 Flavors, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Sonic, Hitching Post Theaters, Starbucks, Burger King, and Big 5. 

Now onto the winners! 

Best of Show, Jessica Grant 

TVAA Pick, Eric Lowe. 

Grades 1 and 2 
First place: Chloe Dowlearn 
Second place: William Kennison 
Third place: Maddie Whitaker 
Fourth place: Sophie Genardini 
Fifth place: Jasmine Hernandez 

Grades 3, 4 and 5 
First place: Anna Cable 
Second place: Emily Kennison 
Third place: Collin Mullins 
Fourth place: Kayleen Patrick 
Fifth place: Seth Beyer 

Grades 6, 7 and 8 
First place: Jacqueline Torres 
Second place: Ella Whitney 
Third place: Allison Jacobson 
Fourth place: Ava Stewart 
Fifth place: Mika Judkins 

High School 
First place: Hanna DeAguero 
Second place: Krista Link 
Third place: Megan Fisher 
Fourth place: Max Bittner 

Adults 
First place: Zachary Patterson 
Second place: Ericka Gonzales 
Third place: Larissa Burt 
Fourth place: Lisa Burt 
Fifth place: Adam Cree 

Family & Group 
First place: Betty Finch 
Second place: The Donnel Cousins 
Third place: Hanna Nicholson 
Fourth place: Brenda Valesco and Kellyann Ball 
Fifth place: Coleen Smith
 

What a great evening! It's always fun to see what our photographer friends come up with for each photo contest. This contest was superb! Every year the contestants up their game! Here are some photos from the contest reception at our First Friday event tonight and a list of the winning photos: 

Best of Show: 
Francoise Renard 

Animals: 
1 Francoise Renard 
2 Chris Naftel 
3 Chris Schatz 
HM Peggy Horn, Dago V, Larry McClain 

Action: 
1 Vincent Hernandez 
2 Neil Barney 
3 Keira Judkins 
HM Caroline Wasielewski, Vincent Hernandez 

Altered Images: 
1 Thomas Medaris 
2 Neil Barney 
3 Mika Judkins 
HM Thomas Medaris 

Elements of Design 
1 Francoise Renard 
2 Karen Schoen 
3 Vincent Hernandez 
HM Susan Miles, Klous D. Schade, Chris Schatz 

Flowers 
1 Neil Barney 
2 Francoise Renard 
3 Vincent Hernandez 
HM Klouse D. Schade, Susan Miles, Chris Schatz 

Landscape & Nature 
1 Susan Miles 
2 Chris Naftel 
3 DJ Judkins 
HM Jeff Husted, Dago V 

Travel 
1 DJ Judkins 
2 Chris Schatz 
3 Klous D. Schade 
HM Francoise Renard, John Weisbard 

Youth Photography 
1 Grace Miller 
2 Grace Miller 
3 Jeremy Cable Jr. 
HM Ella Whitney, Grace Miller, Mika Judkins

Before we get to the "Winner's list" I just have to say... WOW and HOLY COW! We sure have a lot of amazingly talented young artists in our community! Every single entry this year is fantastic! So many creative ideas. Amazing use of color. Lots of different mediums! All who entered sure did a great job of showing off what it means to be an artist! Thank you all for participating in the 20th annual All Tehachapi Youth Art Contest. (Those of you who are seniors, be sure to apply for our scholarships! They are due April 20.) 

2016 TVAA Youth Art Contest Winners 

Best in Show Lower Grades: Cora Shea Sweeny “I’m fine, a self portrait.” 

Best in Show High School: Karson Gilbert “Ram” 

K, 1st & 2nd Grade: 1st place - Owen Keller “The wolf & it’s baby” : 2nd place - Lydia Henning “Indian Sunset” : 3rd place - Capri Cummings “The Bright Flier” : Honorable Mention- Katheryn Donnel “Windmill in the moonlight.” : Cade Hull “Light in the storm.” : Sophia Genardini “Cutie” 

3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade: 1st place - Keera Madoski “Beautiful Bottles” : 2nd place - Mikailey Judkins “Smile!” : 3rd place - Marques E. Munos “Tricerotops Horridus” : Honorable Mention- Eden Beyer - “He is Risen, Indeed”: Charlotte Wilson - “Morning Glory” :Sadie DeVey - “Ocean Blue” 

7th & 8th Grades: 1st place - Ethan Tenderholt “Rustic Barn” : 2nd place - Versailles Zendejas “Werewoolf at the Full Moon” : 3rd place - Ashley Lantana “Strumming Satyr” : Honorable Mention- Ella Whitney “Sunflower” : Joshua Beyer “Island Turtle” : Saida Woolf “Yellow” 

9th – 12th Grade: 1st place - Carolyn Gallella “A Life Time” : 2nd place - Jessica Riggs “Horse” : 3rd place - Cierra Cole “Time Perception” : Honorable Mention: Gracie Nicholas “End of a Dream”: Trinity Short “Bright Flowers” : Autumn Shackelford “Chameleon” : Daisy Edwards “Dream on Missy”