COLUMN: Young artists take delight in recognition

January is the time for calendars. Those of us who weren't given a calendar for Christmas have been looking for something that defines us.

The Housing Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry has the quintessential calendar for the home-building industry.

For the past five years, the division has staged the "Where I Live" children's art contest involving Southern Nevada pupils through fifth grade. The top drawings from this contest are bound in a lovely appointment calendar that is available to the public. Anyone interested in a copy should call Jean Norton at 486-7220, Ext. 224.

Norton, assistant to division administrator Charles Horsey, is the brains and hard work behind the success of this contest, which has captured the imagination of art pupils valleywide; there were nearly 600 entries this year.

A reception was held last Tuesday at the Sawyer Building on Washington Avenue -- where the masterpieces are on display through January -- for all the young artists, their families, art teachers and school principals. The master of ceremonies was none other than Thalia Dondero, chairperson of the Nevada Housing Division Advisory Committee, member of the University of Nevada Board of Regents and former Clark County commissioner.

Speeches were given and people were thanked, including the contest judges: art teacher Jan Butler, artist/art teacher Vija Hamilton, Leigh Ann Cook of The Venetian, and our own Holly Ivy DeVore of the real estate section of the Review-Journal and Sun.

Dondero thanked The Venetian for its support. Last year, hotel owner Sheldon Adelson put on an age-appro- priate buffet for contest participants in The Grand Canal Shoppes area; this year, the event is planned for March 1. The youngsters' artwork will be displayed there through March 15 for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike.

The roving exhibition also will be taken to Carson City, where it will be on display April 2-6 in the Legislative Building.

Pardee Homes has been a tremendous booster of the contest, and has provided funding for the reception, calendar, and prizes for the contest winners.

Pardee executive Ray Landry thanked everyone for participating in the contest and handed out the prizes to the winners. They were: a $150 U.S. savings bond to Summer Byers, a first-grader at Red Rock Elementary, whose teacher is Nita Anderson; a $100 bond to Jared Rhizor, a third-grader at Tobler Elementary, whose teacher is Norma Hagan; and $50 to Ashley Henderson, a fifth-grader at Ronzone Elementary, whose teacher is Deanna Fleischer.

Chelsea Steed, a fourth- grader at Goldfarb Elemen- tary, won the Judges Choice award; her drawing graces the front of the calendar.

The children were all dressed up and their families were so proud. Cameras abounded, and embarrassed youngsters had their picture taken standing next to their art work.

Many of the children sat on the carpet near the podium and were entranced when the Polynesian Folk Dance Group performed right in front of them. One little girl kept her hands over her ears, trying to drown out the sound of the beating drums. Both the boys and girls were enchanted by the hula dancers and some of the kids took home souvenirs from the material that had shedded off the grass skirts. The audience participation portion was a hit, particularly the segment involving Landry.

It was a great event for the community and showed cooperation between the Housing Division and the Clark County School District.

Carmel Hopkins, Real Estate Product Manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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