By BRIANNA LUSK, Staff Writer
March 3, 2007
Printed courtesy of Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA 

Ironically, the artist who took top prize for capturing the vitality of the fair has never actually attended one.

Pattarada Srimee, a foreign exchange student from Thailand, said she tried to take the personality of the Valley and its love for animals and agriculture and translate that into a vibrant work of art.

“I wanted to use colors to give the feeling of the fair. It’s so colorful,” Srimee, 18, said.

Srimee was named the grand prize winner for the second California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta poster contest in collaboration with the Imperial County Office of Education.

ICOE Student Activities Coordinator Denise Cabanilla said there were more than 1,000 entries from schools around Imperial County.

Srimee, who attends Imperial High School, is the second student from the high school to take the title.

The lively scene took over a week to create, Srimee said, with fairgoers, rides and fair animals.

“I wanted to take personalities I see in people and make the animals like characters,” Srimee said.

Her studio arts teacher, Janet Cowne, said she is proud to have another student honored for their talent.

“They’ve got all the natural talent. I’m just their teacher,” Cowne said. “We’re going to go for this and try and make it three years next year.”

While Srimee said there are fairs in Thailand, they don’t compare to the size and grandeur of the Mid-Winter Fair.

“I want to see the animals and all the display artists,” Srimee, who won free fair tickets as part of her award, said.

After seven months of living the Imperial Valley, Srimee said she is grateful for the experience being an exchange student has provided her. Being a part of the most widely attended local event here, she said, was humbling.

“I appreciate everything I’m getting from the fair experience,” she said.

>> Staff Writer Brianna Lusk can be reached at 337-3439 or blusk@ivpressonline.com