Del Mar Pines School in Carmel Valley has won an award from the 2014 Water is Life Art and Mural Challenge by the Wyland Foundation. The contest theme was "Our Ocean" and drew 3,500 students from across the country.
The winning mural displays the message "Protect Our Ocean" and features three sea turtles swimming. Students and their art teacher, Tanya Robinson, chose sea turtles because of the dramatic drop in their population in recent decades.
Robinson said their selection as a winner was flattering, but most importantly, it's raising awareness about the animals.
"As a result of winning, our message about the sea turtles gets more recognition, a bigger audience, and that is the most rewarding," Robinson said.
The students used pointillism painting for the turtles, using a variety of colors. Children’s hand prints were also used to create coral on the sea floor.
"It’s nice that we made something that put an impression on people, that we really did care about the ocean," said Del Mar Pines student Sophie Uchitel. "It’s important that we get this message out."
Del Mar Pines will receive $250 for art supplies from the Wyland Foundation, which was founded by artist Robert Wyland. They plan to donate the award to a local hospital so sick children can have the opportunity to create art.
