SDUSD Art Challenge in Association with the San Diego Zoo
Congratulations to our winners!
TK-2
3-5
6-12
Nature in your Neighborhood
The Challenge
We can all enjoy stunning photos or paintings of elephants, or of exotic rainforest plants, but traveling the world isn't necessary to encounter incredible wildlife–you can find rare and endangered species right in your own community. SDUSD and San Diego Zoo Global are challenging you to capture “Nature in your Neighborhood.”
Your artwork should feature a plant or animal from where you live. It's that simple! We encourage all artists to learn more about the endangered wildlife in their area and challenge themselves to feature an animal that needs our help. Pieces can be done in any two- or three-dimensional visual arts media, whether watercolor, clay, photography, computer-generated art, mixed media, or something else.
EXPLORE
When you hear that a plant or animal is an endangered species, most people think of an animal living in a far away place, like a leopard, a rhino, or a panda! There are actually roughly 200 endangered species living right here in San Diego County--and they need your help.
Nature itself is a work of art, and the nature here in our own backyards needs protecting.
Go for a walk, look out your window, or do a quick internet search to find a local plant or animal that you find beautiful (or interesting!), and create an original work of art featuring that species! If the species is endangered, even better. You can use iNaturalist to support your research and even get feedback from real scientists.
STEP TWO
PLAN
Stuff You Need
Photo of your chosen species (or a really good memory)
Art supplies
Time
Optional: wifi and iNaturalist app
Time and Place
Submit your artwork HERE by 11:59pm on Monday, November 23rd, 2020
Keep an eye on the San Diego Zoo Website to vote on your favorite artwork.
Winners will be announced on the San Diego Zoo Website and on the SDUSD Expanding Horizons site.
Winners are responsible for delivering their artwork to the San Diego Zoo Education Department for display on Zoo grounds by 5pm on Thursday, January 7th, 2021
Action Steps
STEP THREE
DO
ACTION 1
Take a walk, look out your window, or do a quick internet search for endangered species in your community.
Need help? Check out iNaturalist!
Use iNaturalist to help you identify endangered species near you!
Download the iNaturalist app on a smartphone, or visit inaturalist.org to learn more.
Then, take a walk in your neighborhood or even just look out the window at the plants and animals around you. Using the app, submit a photo to identify the chosen species. Use the app to find out: Is this a native and endangered species?
On the app, enable these filters to search for endangered species in your area
Wild
Verifiable
Threatened
Has photos
Scroll through images until you find one you like with a green “N” in the upper right corner. That’s how you know it’s a native species!
ACTION 2
Create your artwork! It can be any 2-D or 3-D visual artwork including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, or something else! quizl
Your final artwork should be no larger than 26 inches tall, 26 inches wide, 12 inches deep (if 3-D), and up to 15 pounds.
Review the Official Rules for more info.
ACTION 3
Submit a photo(s) of your finished artwork to SDUSD website by 11:59 pm on Monday, November 23rd, 2020. Each artist can only submit ONE piece of art.
Check the San Diego Zoo website often following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Up to 10 finalists in each age group will see their artwork posted to the San Diego Zoo website for public voting! Encourage your friends and family to visit the site and vote until 11:59 pm on Monday, December 14, 2020.
Winners will be announced by 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 17th, 2020!
STEP FOUR
SHARE
Students should submit artwork to SDUSD HERE. SDUSD will share copies of artwork with San Diego Zoo Global’s judging panel (no student contact info will be shared).
The top 3 artists in each age group (K-2, 3-5, and 6-12, based on fall 2020) will receive an annual membership to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park and 4, single-day passes. Winners will be announced on Thursday, December 17th, 2020!
Encourage your friends and family to visit the San Diego Zoo website and vote until Monday, December 14, 2020.
Winning artwork will be displayed at the San Diego Zoo during the month of January 2021.