Pajaro Valley Student Wins 1st Place In Congressional Art Competition

News release from Pajaro Valley Unified School District:

WATSONVILLE, CA — “Sacrificing My Father’s Hands” is the title of the 20th Congressional Art Competition “An Artistic Discovery” 1st place winning photograph by Michelle Lopez-Rubio, Junior at Aptos High School at Pajaro Valley Unified School District. As one looks deeper into this photograph, it is easy to immerse oneself in the sacrifice story that is being told. Anna Spurlock and Autumn Zaretsky, also from Aptos High participated in the competition alongside high school students from Salinas, Monterey, San Benito, Carmel, Gilroy and Santa Cruz.

As the winner, Michelle Lopez-Rubio will travel to Washington DC in June, along with her sister, to be recognized and see her piece exhibited in the U.S. Capitol. “Sacrificing My Father’s Hands” will be displayed for an entire year along with other Congressional District winners.

Ms. Lopez-Rubio did not expect her work to receive this honor but is keenly aware of the impact it can have: “I was shocked that my photo was even selected for the competition, and after learning I won, I felt honored and grateful. This photo was about bringing light to what field workers have to go through every day. Experiencing it firsthand, it felt very personal to photograph, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. I hope that this photo getting so much attention can help improve the conditions of field workers.”

“At PVUSD we recognize the profound influence of arts in education and we are proud to have opportunities for our students to explore their artistic talent. Congratulations to Michelle Lopez-Rubio for having created such a touching piece that will be enjoyed by the millions of visitors the U.S. Capitol sees annually. It is not only a heartfelt photograph, but also a strong representation of our community and we are proud to celebrate this recognition,” stated Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Schools at PVUSD.

Veronique Marks, Lopez-Rubio’s Visual and Performing Arts teacher, commended her students for bravely sharing their artwork with the public. “I strive to teach my students that what they capture in a photograph can have extraordinary power that goes beyond language, straight to your heart. The arts are essential, now more than ever. It gives students a voice and an avenue for healing and self-expression that they don’t often have in other subjects. This national competition highlights the value of art as a core subject and celebrates the creativity of our nation's youth.”

PVUSD is proud to congratulate Ms. Lopez-Rubio for this recognition and to express our appreciation for sharing the skills and techniques she has learned with us and all who visit our Nation’s Capitol.

This news release was produced by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.