Strange artwork

Irma Lemus

BURBANK -- With the theme “It would be really strange if...,” artwork

for the Burbank Parent-Teacher Assn.’s fine arts competition is just that

-- strange.

With pictures ranging from rats surfing to a drawing of a house made

of pepperoni, the PTA council awarded 16 medals to students Thursday at

the Burbank Central Library.

About 200 students submitted work in music, literature, visual arts

and photography for the reflections arts competition, said Anita Davy,

council president.

“The students really had fun with it. They did a great job,” Davy

said.

The 16 finalists were chosen by a panel of professional artists

specializing in different fields. The student artwork will now move on to

the district competition; winners will be announced later this month.

Ray Letts, an 11-year-old Bret Harte Elementary student, won in the

photography competition for his color photograph depicting a boy holding

a man in his palm.

“I got the idea after thinking about what it would be like if kids

could rule the world,” he said.

To achieve the artistic illusion, Letts used his mother’s photographic

equipment. He said he hopes to work for National Geographic magazine one

day.

His Bret Harte classmate, Steven Bonilla, 8, won in the literature

competition for his essay on a wingless butterfly.

“I really like insects, so I thought I would write a story about a

butterfly that could not fly,” Bonilla said.

And at such a young age, Bonilla knows what he wants in life. He said

he wants to seek a career in medicine -- and to make lots of money.

Competition artwork will be on display at the Central Library, 110 N.

Glenoaks Blvd., second floor auditorium, until Jan. 31.

Student winners for music are Kaylee Mackey, Stephanie Froelich, Benji

Baker and Ian Walker.

For literature, the winners are Bonilla, David Vessella, Matthew

Scharch and Michelle Macaraeg.

Alice Lee, Jordan Bradley, Asma Khan and Monica Kim were honored for

their visual artwork.

Photography awards went to Cassie Abrahamson, Samantha Kelly, Brandon

Andersen and Letts.