Norte Vista High School seniors, Lunna Mora, and Angelica Casas, never considered themselves artists.

However, their International Baccalaureate (IB) art teacher, Carole Coffman, entered their student art projects into the 2^nd Annual Riverside County Fine Arts Spectacular, and both students’ submissions were chosen as winners.

Nearly 200 middle and high school students participated in the countywide art competition, and dozens of finalists’ works are on virtual exhibition at the Fine Arts Spectacular website. Lunna’s and Angelica’s original submissions represented two of the 18 student pieces chosen for exhibit at the Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts on the campus of College of the Desert from May 13 – 19, 2022.

Neither Angelica nor Lunna had received any previous recognition for their artwork, and both students found out their artwork had been honored while they were in their Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) class.

“The school made the announcements while we were in class, and I didn’t even realize it until I heard it. It was very unexpected,” Lunna said.

“Since I was a little kid, I’ve always been drawn to drawing and always carry a notebook,” Angelica said. “But, sometimes it’s difficult to consider myself an artist because I don’t do it enough. Winning this helped me prove to myself that I can consider myself an artist.”

“I never considered myself an artist, nor did I think I had the creativity to be able to execute a really good art piece,” Lunna said. “I never thought any of my pieces were good enough, but the competition helped me realize, ‘Wow, I guess I’m pretty good at it.’”

Angelica and Lunna’s art teacher, Carole Coffman, has been teaching for more than 30 years—including the last 17 years at Norte Vista High School.

“Teaching art is exciting and fun. Art helps so many of our students because they don’t realize how good they are until they win something,” said Coffman. “It’s validation amidst so much that is going on in their lives, and it shows that art really does matter.”

Both students explained how their teacher, Ms. Coffman, helped them become more familiar with art and their own creativity.

“Ms. Coffman really helped us through the process, from the basics of art, to practicing different materials, and all the styles of art,” Lunna said. “She helped us open our eyes to so many different things.”

“She provides us a space to try those things we have always wanted to try, and now we have the resources to actually do it,” Angelica said. “Because she’s an artist herself, Ms. Coffman provides an insight into what works and what does not. It has really helped me critique my own art.”

Throughout the last few years of the pandemic, both Lunna and Angelica have experienced the challenge and the benefits of exploring artistic endeavors.

“For me, my art is stressful. Because I get so into it, and I want it to be perfect,” Lunna said. “But, I’ve learned that regardless of how I finish a product, I’m happy with what I am able to do and I’m glad that I’m not stressed anymore.”

“At night, when everybody else is asleep, it’s very peaceful and I could work endlessly on my art,” Angelica said. “It does make me sleep-deprived, but it’s all worth it. It’s like problem-solving, and I try new things and it leads to trying more new things.”

As both students prepare for life after high school, the stories behind their award-winning art pieces resonate with the actual next steps in their life journeys.

Artist: Lunna Mora
Grade: 12
School: Norte Vista High School
District: Alvord USD
Medium: Watercolor
Division: High School
Award: Judge’s Favorite
Artist Statement: This artwork was inspired by Paul Cezanne’s French paining, Still Life With Skull. It is comparing life to education. You work your way up to a degree to be able to obtain a well-paying job, live your life a little, then death hits. The story is a quite morbid but if you think about it, what's next?
Quote: My piece may be more morbid, but it’s about life being more that a journey of college and education.
What’s Next: But, what’s next for me, is that I would love to study abroad, or to backpack around the world. I want to explore and do things that I can do before, or after my education.

Artist: Angelica Casas
Grade: 12
School: Norte Vista High School
District: Alvord USD
Medium: Mixed
Division: High School
Award: Meaningful Use of Materials
Artist Statement: Inspired by the love sanctuaries popular in Mexican-American communities, 'Sanctuary of Self Love' is in honor of human vulnerability. The nails and sharp items that compose this piece are meant to symbolize the pain that comes with being vulnerable. In contrast, the light color palette, lace, and use of white, is meant to contrast the pain and show the beauty and innocence of human emotions.
Quote: “The title of my piece came first as I wanted to show what it means to come to terms with myself,” Angelica said. “Although, from a distance, the sanctuary looks beautiful, it doesn’t represent how hard it is to come to terms with yourself and understanding who you are. Even if there is pain, it’s still beautiful when you accomplish it.”
What’s Next: “I’m going to start the journey of being content with myself as I learn how to be independent and preparing to learn about myself in new ways. This fall, I will be entering UC Berkeley as an English major, but I want to double major in sociology and am interested in a pre-law track. I’m interested in being a civil rights attorney and giving back to the community.”