Artists brought out UCF’s true colors as they commemorated the university’s 50th anniversary during Wednesday’s Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition held outside the Teaching Academy.
The event, hosted by the College of Education, showcased participants’ creative abilities and school spirit while challenging them to create a work of art that celebrates UCF’s milestone birthday.
The event drew artists from UCF and the community and from all levels of experience.
While some participants worked individually, others collaborated with team members to design their 4-by-4 foot sections of sidewalk. Freshmen Olivia Keene and Kristine Jubilag infused their majors into their artwork by illustrating Pegasus looking through a microscope.
“Using Pegasus was an obvious choice for us, but we wanted to incorporate the scientific aspects of the university as well,” said Keene, a biology and environmental studies major.
Meanwhile, Valencia College sophomore Kevin Cadena focused on a different aspect of UCF’s 50th anniversary: its four presidents. Cadena, who will transfer to UCF to study advertising/public relations, partnered with UCF sophomore Wendy Nishikawa, a studio art major, to lead their team of five artists.
“I felt that we should incorporate the history of the university,” said Cadena. “We decided that our art should be an ode to the four presidents who made this school so great.”
Artwork was judged by local artists and educators. Keene’s and Jubilag won first place for their drawing; Rudy Drapiza placed second; Jamie Schwerstein was third; Cadena and his team placed fourth; and Janet Tombros came in fifth place. Winners received prizes from Orlando art store Sam Flax and the UCF Bookstore.
Freshmen Olivia Keene and Kristine Jubilag won first place for infusing their majors into their artwork by illustrating Pegasus looking through a microscope.
Rudy Drapiza’s building blocks combined UCF with it’s original name, Florida Technological University.