Two Bloomingdale Senior High School art students are gaining recognition at one of the nation’s premier outdoor juried art events.

 

Sophomore Nina Aristondo, 16, and senior Camila Alvarino, 18, were selected to represent their school at the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, which annually showcases more than 250 artists and draws tens of thousands of visitors to Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa. The festival features a wide range of media including painting, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media and offers juried awards to outstanding participants.

 

“Both of these girls have been strong students at BSHS, truly putting in the extra effort to create unique and show-worthy compositions,” said Pamela Reeves, Bloomingdale’s art teacher. “Nina is in her first year of art and has been a leader in entries and awards this year. She has a unique ‘traditional’ style. Camila is finishing her fourth year of art at BSHS and has always went above and beyond. Her ability to see and use color is my favorite part of her style. She also makes pieces with so much personal meaning. I am honored to be their teacher and look forward to see their growth here and away at college!”

 

 

Aristondo entered her first competitions this year and has already picked up multiple honors, including first place at the Brandon League of Fine Arts competition, a silver medal in the Scholastic Art Awards and second place at the Greater Brandon Service League show. She sees art as less subjective and more direct, she says — an approach that has served her well in juried competitions.

 

Alvarino, who has been making art since childhood and has completed four years of art classes at Bloomingdale, has competed and placed in numerous shows. She will attend the University of South Florida next year, where she plans to study biomedical sciences. For Alvarino, art “says what I can’t say,” she says, channeling meaning into her pieces through color and personal expression.

 

The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts provides a platform for both emerging and established artists to present their work, engage with a large public audience and compete for significant awards