Young Artists and Authors Contest
Sister Cities International presents its annual Young Artists and Authors Showcase, encouraging young people ages 13-18 to express the organization’s mission through original artwork, writing, photography, and music. The 2023 theme was “Peace by Piece: Food Security in my Community.” The competition includes six categories: Classic Art, Digital Art, Photography, Essay, Poetry, and Musical Composition. Winners receive cash prizes and have work displayed on the Sister Cities International website.
Art – Classical Medium
Bread for Always – Prismacolor pencil on paper by Maya Caran, age 15. The artist created an image of a girl learning bread-making from her grandmother, stating: “I hope it will rekindle interest in bread-making, and with it, the security of self-sufficiency.”
Equal Food for All – Acrylic paint and pencil by Meher Birari, age 12. The artist addresses food inequality, noting disparity between wealthy and poor communities’ food access.
Thief – Soft pastel and colored pencil by River Wu, age 15. Depicts a person eating while crops fail in developing nations affected by climate change caused by developed countries.
Art – Digital Medium
Helping Hands – Adobe Fresco by Maya Caran, age 15. Inspired by community gardens, celebrating multicultural vegetables and neighborhood cooperation for food security.
Leftovers – Procreate by Polina van Hulsen, age 15. Addresses food waste concerns, noting “nearly 119 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States” annually, representing approximately 40% of all food.
Music
Starving for the Moon – Piano and Noteflight by Carson Packard, age 16.
Resilience – Original music by Parker Smith, age 14. Inspired by a Kenya visit.
Essay
Cows and Climate Change: An Uncertain Future by Maya Abouav, age 13.
Busy as a Bee by Taarini Kadambi, age 13.
Poetry
A Poem About Food by Jacob Kinsky, age 15.
Photos
