Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful calls for entries in student art show

By BRITTANY FHOLER 

Cove Leader-Press 

This year, Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful is hosting an Upcycle Art Contest, leading up to the annual Spring Eco Fling on Feb. 27.

“This year KCCB chose to host Eco Fling as a hybrid event,” said KCCB Executive Director Roxanne Flores-Achmad. “Incorporating an art show allows our youth to showcase their art skills and allows KCCB to reach another audience. We chose our theme as ‘Upcycle Art’ which allows participants to incorporate items they may have in their homes.”

Upcycling is defined as taking something that would be thrown away or disposed of and repurposing it for a different use, which often makes it more functional or beautiful than it originally was, according to UpcycleThat.com. 

Upcycling differs from recycling in that upcycling gives an item a new purpose, whereas in recycling, items like paper, plastic, glass, etc. are broken down to be reused. 

Entries are due on Thursday, Feb. 25, and need to be dropped off between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Copperas Cove Civic Center at 1206 W. Avenue B.

Guidelines for the art entries state that each entry can be no larger than 2.5 feet x 4 feet. 

Any medium is acceptable, including pencil, crayon, charcoal, pen and ink, pastels, paint, paper, clay, fabric, plastic, rubber, found materials, craft material and metal. Each entry must reflect the theme “Upcycle Art”. 

Entries are limited to one per student.  The name of the student must be printed on the back as well as the student’s school, grade, an email address and a valid phone number. Writing that is illegible or entries lacking identification will result in the entry being disqualified.

Because the winning entries will be hung on the walls of the Civic Center with art putty, if possible, students are encouraged to use heavier paper stock if the entry will be on a paper. Entries that cannot be hung, such as sculptures, will be displayed on tables instead. 

All students residing within Copperas Cove Independent School District boundaries are eligible to participate. 

Judging will take place on Feb. 26, and no parents, teachers or children will be allowed in the room while the artwork is being judged. 

Winners will be selected in four different divisions to include Elementary PreK – 2nd grade; Elementary 3rd – 5th grade; Middle School; and High School. First place winners will receive a $20 gift card and a trophy. Second place winners will receive a $15 gift card and trophy. Third place winners will receive a $10 gift card and trophy. 

Winners announced and prizes awarded on Saturday, February 27, 11:30 a.m. at the Spring Eco Fling held at the Copperas Cove Civic Center. 

After the Spring Eco Fling, the winning entries will be displayed in the Copperas Cove Public Library through May 1. 

For questions on the contest, people can email Flores-Achmad at rflores-achmad@copperascovetx.gov.