BREA : Art Contest Winners Star With Fireworks

Winners of the Brea Country Fair art competition will have their works displayed at the city’s Fourth of July celebration at the Brea-Olinda High School stadium.

More than 600 elementary school students entered the contest, sponsored by the Country Fair Steering Committee. The annual competition once again involved decorating posters drawn by Disney artist Stacia Martin.

Students in kindergarten through second grade were given a poster of a dog, while older students were given a poster of a boy and girl. The posters’ old-fashioned look reflects the fair’s country theme, noted Judy Campos, an administrative assistant with the city and steering committee member.

Entrants used a variety of art supplies, including crayons, colored pencils and felt markers. Three winners were chosen from each grade level. Winners were awarded $10, a ribbon and an official Country Fair T-shirt.

Kelly Meltebeke, a sixth-grader at Christ Lutheran School, won second place for her pastel felt pen rendering. The 12-year-old had never entered a art contest before, but she figured it would be fun.

When members of the steering committee walked into her classroom and called out her name as a winner, she was surprised.

“I didn’t think it was good enough,” she said. “The first-place winner (Tracy DeBoer) is from my school too. Hers was really good.”

Viewers can judge for themselves at the fair, which starts at 10 a.m. Artwork will be on display at the information booth. The fair will also feature sidewalk entertainers, several bands and a fly-over by vintage airplanes. The fireworks show, billed by the city as the second largest in the state, begins at 9:30 p.m.

Admission to the fair is free, but tickets to the fireworks show are $10.