In the early evening of Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Vita Art Center provided the home for the art works of elementary, middle, and high schoolers in the Ventura Unified School District’s sixth annual art showcase. A celebration of youth art and creativity in schools, the event was a hit, with seven Buena artists bringing home awards for their fantastic, one-of-a-kind art pieces. 

The middle school showing kicked off at 4:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 5:30 and the high school art viewing. Art pieces varied from graphic design, oil painting, acrylic painting, sculptures, photography and even sewn pieces. 

Put together by the Arts Collaborative Group, the art teachers in the district who planned and coordinated the event so that it ran smoothly and made sure each of the schools had equal representation. 

Ventura High School’s photography and digital art teacher, Hilary Morefield-Colman, was the main coordinator. She believes art is one of the most important ways to express yourself.

“We work all year on making this event happen by collaborating with Vita Art Gallery…Ventura is such a creative city, and I am so proud of the way we’ve invested in arts education here,” Morefield-Colman said.

Buena students pulled through and had a solid showing, earning six gold awards out of the 20 pieces entered. Awards were “gold status”, with a certain number of awards to give to all of the art pieces entered, rather than a first through third place.

Buena senior Bennet Urwick earned a gold award for his piece “Das Raupe” translated from his mom’s native language, German, meaning “the caterpillar.” His piece, a self-portrait portraying him as a caterpillar, was centered around his connection to bugs and how, while they are harmless, they are feared by many and even considered ‘disgusting.’ He used to be very afraid of bugs but recently has “felt very connected to them” because, as a transgender person, people tend to judge him off first glance, and “that just isn’t fair.” 

Urwick appreciates the opportunity that the art showcase provides, and that people can be exposed to a lot of different art. He notes how important it is for teen art to be shown and seen. 

“People don’t think very much about children’s art, they [think] ‘oh they are kids, and they do not know anything’ but they don’t know that there is a lot of talent here,” Urwick said. “A 45-year-old man won’t have the same perspective as a 6th grade girl, but he can still connect with the art that she’s created.”

Art was available for purchase and successfully most pieces were sold. Along with Urwick, aspiring artist senior Harper Thorne was another earner of the “gold status” for her graphic design art labeled “Concession.” 

At the event, Buena’s culinary class also made an appearance, serving hors d’oeuvres like pesto pastries, tiny chocolate mousse and all different types of charcuteries to keep the guests satisfied in between the viewing and awards. 

Buena art teacher Nicole Rapattoni-Bryant played a key role in planning the event and noted how the showcase brought the schools together and how it was amazing to have such an inspiring space to represent high school art. 

“Art is our way to communicate our emotions, it’s our way to connect in ways that we can’t connect verbally,” Rapattoni-Bryant said. 

Finally, the awards ceremony arrived, and Justin Fraizer announced the gold star winners in the showcase. Buena students including Bennett Urwick, Harper Thorne, Sebastian de Vicente, Lily Coffin, Amralynn Romo, and Zane Fennern walked up to claim their prize—a little cash, and a gold ranking. 

Even those who didn’t earn that status were happy to share their art, as it’s the message that matters more than the competition. Lila Rosenthal, a painter from Foothill Technology High School, was happy to see art from all of the other schools. 

“[Art shows] how people think and how people express themselves, it’s important for everyone to see how different people think in different ways… it’s the one language everyone can understand.” Rosenthal said. 

As the art show came to an end, the public filed out of the awards area to catch one last glance at the beautiful, original art that surrounded them. 

“It is important to [show art] because with the rise of AI art, people are trying really hard to push the rhetoric that art is losing its value in society,” Thorn said. “So I think highlighting the young people who are continuously replenishing the supply of creative expression that we have in the world is extremely important”