The Keep It Clean Partnership has recently revealed the winners of its 2024 Boulder St. Vrain Watershed Art Contest, a competition that merges the creativity of students with environmental awareness. The contest saw a surge in participation with a record-breaking 215 students from 50 schools submitting artworks, clearly showing that the youth are eager to visually articulate their connections with Colorado's waterways. The winners, ranging from kindergarten through high school, received prizes including cash and art supplies for their noteworthy contributions. This initiative not only allowed students to showcase their artistic talents but also to actively partake in a conversation about the importance of water conservation, according to Boulder County.
This year's winners provided a tapestry of memories, each uniquely viewing the Colorado waters that have shaped their experiences. As obtained by Boulder County, Cristina Ramirez, the coordinator of the Keep It Clean Partnership, highlighted the significance of the contest, "Art lets us hold onto the moments, people, and places we care about most." She stressed the dual role of the competition as both a platform for expression and an educational tool meant to deeply remind us to uphold the sanctity of our rivers and streams.
Among the winners, there's Linus from Boulder County, who took home the top prize in the K-2 category with his art inspired by Sombrero Marsh, and Mia from Lafayette, who led the 9th-12th grade category with her piece capturing the transition of snow into ice water. Each entry bears a personal sentiment, whether it's Samuel's 8th birthday beside a trout-filled lake or CJ's trek to the stunning Hanging Lake. These narratives, as diverse as the environments they reflect, are visual allegories of the bond between the youth and the Colorado water they cherish.
Enthusiasts can view the winning entries on the Keep It Clean Partnership website, where high-resolution images of the works are available for download. The organization invites the community to appreciate these visions of Colorado's waterways through fresh eyes, eyes that have seen the vivid clarity of lakes and the transformative power of snowfall and translated these moments into art that may just as quickly inspire as they captivate.
