Space Symposium


Student Artists Greeted at Space Symposium

Written by: developer

The 25 winners of the 2014 Space Foundation International Student Art Contest were invited to attend the Space Foundation’s 30th Space Symposium on May 21 in Colorado Springs. The contest theme, “My Spaceship Looks Like…,” challenged students worldwide, ages 3-18, to design their own spaceship and then interpret that idea into an original work of visual art in a their choice of medium – drawing, painting, mixed media or digital art.

Young artists from eight countries were selected for the top slots from among more than 7,100 entries representing 54 countries, including 43 U.S. states and two U.S. territories – the largest response since the contest began four years ago.

Three of the student artists and their families travelled from across the United States, and one family came from as far away as Bangladesh. They toured the Boeing Exhibit Center and the Boeing Exhibit Center Pavilion, then attended a reception in their honor, where they met former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao.

Student artists who attended the reception included (pictured with Chiao, from top to bottom):

  • Tiffany Chen
    Logan Elementary, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA
    1st Place, age category 9-10 years
  • Armeen Jafry
    Rongdhonu Art Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    1st Place, age category 3-4 years
  • Vivian Liu
    Susan Art School, Milpitas, Calif., USA
    1st Place, age category 7-8 years
  • Cole Lydston
    Norman Rockwell Elementary, Redmond, Wash., USA
    3rd Place, age category 5-6 years

At the reception, the students were able to see their artwork displayed, and get autographs and photos with Dr. Chiao. Each of the winners was excited to meet Dr. Chiao, including Cole Lydston, who came with a handwritten list of questions which he read aloud to the former astronaut. The families were also given an opportunity to visit and tour the Space Foundation Discovery Center, where their artwork is also on display.

Five of the six judges for this year’s art contest also attended the reception and met the winning artists. They included (pictured below with Chiao, left to right): Joe Vinton, Digital Artist, Renderosity Artist of the Year, Burton, Trent, United Kingdom; Lourn Eidal, Assistant Art Director, Crystal Peak Design, Colorado Springs, Colo., USA; Hans Wolfe, Middle and Upper School Visual Arts, Visiting Artist Coordinator, Art Department Chair, The Colorado Springs School, Colorado Springs, Colo., USA; Mercy Yeo, Professional Artist, Ann Arbor, Mich., USA; and Carolyn Strong, Director, Young Rembrandts, Denver, Colo., USA   

The winning artwork for this year’s contest can be seen on the Space Foundation website photo gallery by clicking here, and all the submitted artwork can be seen at www.artsonia.com/museum in the “My Spaceship Looks Like…” Space Foundation art gallery.  Learn more about the annual Space Foundation International Student Art Contest here.

The theme for the 2015 Space Foundation International Student Art Contest is The View From My Spaceship and will open for submissions beginning Aug. 1, 2014. Watch here for more details as the contest approaches. Also, follow the Space Foundation on Facebook to stay up-to-date.

This article is part of Space Watch: June 2014 (Volume: 13, Issue: 6).


Posted in Space Symposium