Artists and Residents Gather in First Public Art Contest

Artists-in-hiding became artist residents Friday with the .

Four locals won top honors in the first Community Art Contest hosted by the Friends of the .

“We had a fantastic response,” said library event coordinator Marta Wiggins. “We met our expectations for the number of pieces received [and] I am overly impressed with the quality of the art.”

About 88 community members dropped by the library and judged the artwork in a secret ballot vote, Wiggins said.

First place winners received gift cards to Aaron Brothers Art Mart. The following awards were distributed: 

Wall Art, Ages 5-12 (17 entries)

Third place:  Mihir Manchikatla, Age 5

Second place:  Dion Moradi, Age 5

First place:  Ida Tongkumvong, Age 10

Wall Art, ages 13-17 (7 entries)

Third place:  Grace Poole, Age 15

Second place:  Ainsley Dye, Age 14

First place:  Heather Strong, Age 15 -- also awarded BEST IN SHOW

Wall Art, adult 18+ (6 entries)

Third place:  Carly Anderson for "Bayside Reflection"

Second place:  Kari Mitchell for "In the Garden"

First place:  Valencia Sin-Clare for "Love"

Sculpture, all ages (1 entry)

First place:  Tara Coffeen, Age 12

Strong, Poole and Sin-Clair were invited to exhibit more art pieces at upcoming Third Friday Artists' Receptions.

The Community Art Contest was sponsored by a matching grant from the County of Los Angeles Library Foundation.

“The La Crescenta Library was the first county building that was designed with the new mandate to use civic art in the building program,” Wiggins said.

Because the contest was so well-received, the library plans to offer the Community Art Contest again, Wiggins said.