Socorro Independent School District students elevated modern pop culture into art at the 2023 "What's Poppin'?!?" Art Contest.
The young artists drew inspiration from popular and commercial culture sources such as Bruno Mars, Barbie and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to create colorful and dynamic artwork, including paintings and sculptures.
“This is kind of really cool for the kids because they get to reach into their interests, whether it’s anime or superheroes, or musicians, and they actually get to depict artwork in that aspect,” said Assistant Director of Fine Arts Candace Printz.
The districtwide art competition featured 268 entries. First, second, and third-place winners were announced in the elementary, middle, and high school divisions at the exhibit’s opening ceremony Nov. 14 in Socorro ISD's District Service Center's lobby.
Alyssa Salgado, a seventh-grader at SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School won first place in the middle school category for her colorful portrait of singer Bruno Mars titled after his song, "Locked out of Heaven."
“I love popular stuff, and I love drawing colorful things and a lot of popular things, too,” Salgado said. “When it comes to pop art, I get super creative, and my mind just opens for art.”
Pop art was Jacqueline Heard's first time competing in an SISD art contest. Her picture, "Trapped in a Digital World," based on the TV show, "The Amazing Digital Circus," won third place in the high school division.
“I don’t really get to show people my art often, but usually when I can, I do,” said Heard, an eleventh grader at El Dorado High School. "This is cool seeing not only my art here but everybody else's art here because I didn't know there were so many artists in my district."
SISD 2023 "What's Poppin'?!?" Art Contest Winners
High School Division
1st Place
Makayla Pruna
El Dorado High School
2nd Place
Jacqueline Vargas
Montwood High School
3rd Place
Jacqueline Heard
El Dorado High School
Middle School Division
1st Place
Alyssa Salgado
SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School
2nd Place
Jose Cuellar Barron
Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy
3rd Place
Khloe Loera
Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy
Elementary Division
1st Place
Sofia Alvarez
Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy
2nd Place
Isabella Pacheco
Benito Martinez Elementary School
3rd Place
Sonny Ortega
Escontrias STEAM Academy