VBCPS middle and high school students and teachers were invited to celebrate the vibrant surf and ocean culture of Virginia Beach at the Coastal Edge Steel Pier Classic presented by Katin during the Memorial Day weekend.
More than 100 ocean-inspired artistic creations were displayed and offered for sale in the Coastal Edge Student and Teacher Art Pavilion located on the sand at the First Street jetty.
The pavilion showcased the student-teacher art show, the Vans Custom Culture Art Show and the Eastern Skateboard Art Exhibit featuring skate decks and white canvas Vans shoes transformed into unique works of art.
Prizes were awarded in the artwork, skate deck and shoe categories.
Plaza Middle art teacher Anne Waterfield served as chairperson of the student and teacher art exhibition.
“This has been such a great opportunity for our students,” she said.
Students and teachers used a variety of media, including surfboards, masks and tote bags.
Plaza Middle student Remi Chakin transformed a mask into a dog named “Fetch.”
Jazlyn Carrington’s acrylic painting, titled “Yellow Moray,” portrayed a moray eel and fish underwater, while Hailey Grabb’s watercolor featured the word “hope” swirled into clouds with a lighthouse in the foreground.
Richmond resident Brenda Walker and family own a beach house on the North End. They rode their bikes down to the oceanfront and visited the student art pavilion.
“Everything was so awesome,” Walker said. “I love seeing art, especially by young people.”
She purchased a surfboard painted by Esther Gammille titled “Swirls of Sunset.” The Ocean Lakes High School student’s entry won second place in the Artwork category.
Walker described Esther’s unique artwork as “joyful.”
“It’s a beautiful piece with rays of sunshine beaming through,” she said.
The surfboard is now displayed in her beach home’s front foyer.
Angela Gonzales thanked Coastal Edge for allowing her to participate in the show. “It was an amazing opportunity for me as an art teacher to showcase my ceramic jewelry alongside other teaching artists and especially with student artists,” she said.
The North Landing Elementary art teacher applauded former student David Morales for his entry “King Neptune.” The Kellam High senior, who was recently a student teacher at North Landing, placed first in the show’s artwork division.
“Encouraging teacher artists’ participation shows the audience that art is a labor of love, we practice what we teach and that is can be a business,” Gonzales said.
Coastal Edge President Deepak Nachnani said it was an honor to work with remarkable VBCPS students and their dedicated teachers who shape future designers, artists and community leaders.
“At Coastal Edge, we believe in celebrating self-expression and investing in the cultural pillars that shape our identity: art, fashion, music and action sports,” he said.
“These students represent the future of creativity and it’s a privilege to provide a platform where their bold original voices can shine.”
Awards
Artwork
First: David Murales, Kellam High, “King Neptune”
Second: Esther Gammill, Ocean Lakes High, “Surfboard”
Third: Ada Colton, Virginia Beach Middle, “Summer Breeze”
Honorable mentions:
Jozlyn Carrington, Kempsville High, “Sockeye Salmon”
Charlie Ballard, Kellam High, “Octopus Cake”
Jules Lauzon, Virginia Beach Middle, “Wave Mosaic”
Vans Shoes
First place: Lily Rouse, First Colonial High School “Neptune”
Second place: Yildiz Yildirim, Virginia Beach Middle, “Octopus”
Third: Ashlyn Deputy, Virginia Beach Middle
Honorable mentions:
Alexis Lee, Landstown High
Javier Mendez, Kempsville High
Skate Decks
First: Penelope Augero, Virginia Beach Middle
Second: Hanna Batty, Virginia Beach Middle
Third: Eddi Neeley, Kempsville High
Honorable mentions:
Prohar Roy, Tallwood High
Amya Redmond, Ava Billingsley, Salem High
Elyse Hinkel, First Colonial High
