After a brief hiatus, the Santa Maria Rodeo Window Painting and High School Art Competition is back in action.
Once an annual custom in town, businesses will now allow art students from every local high school to publicly display their artistry on the businesses’ windows through the end of Rodeo Weekend, June 5. The designs—which have a “Go Rodeo Days” theme—celebrate the Elks Rodeo and community spirit.
Elks Recreation partnered with the Community Bank of Santa Maria to mark the bank’s 10th anniversary, “Celebration of Community,” with the contest. The winning art student will receive a $500 bond, and all participating schools will receive a $500 donation. In return, participating businesses receive free paintings on their windows.
The Community Bank of Santa Maria is providing all of the tempera paint and any other supplies needed for the art, said Janet Silveria, chief operating officer for the bank.
“We have some very generous donors who have donated the supplies,” she told the Sun.
Silveria also said the students have a two-day span to complete the window murals, since paintings often take more than one day. The Community Bank of Santa Maria asks that each school participant complete the painting by May 21.
Among the schools participating are Valley Christian Academy, St. Joseph High School, Delta High School, Ernest Righetti High School, Pioneer Valley High School, and Santa Maria High School. All three locations of the Community Bank of Santa Maria will have their windows painted, Silveria said.
The winning student will be announced during the June 2 bull-riding event.
Businesses interested in having windows turned into works of art should contact Silveria or Miken Marquez at the Community Bank of Santa Maria at 922-2900.
This article appears in May 19-26, 2011.