SAN ANTONIO - One local school out of almost a thousand nationwide was selected as a top 50 finalist in a special art contest. But this is no ordinary art contest. This one calls for some distinct style and involves some real "sole."
For some people your shoes are merely a practical covering for your feet, but then are those people who like to use them to show a little style.
A group of Mccollum High School art students was chosen as one of the top 50 teams out of 900 nationally in what is called the Vans Custom Culture art contest. It is a chance for high school art students to transfer their best out of the box art to a different kind of canvas. Taking a basic drawing and making it fit like a shoe...with style.
McCollum art student Juan Garcia told us, "It was actually really hard t like put it on. Instead of it being flat, we had to make it more three dimensional."
Each team had to come up with a shoe design displaying four themes: art, music, action sports and there was even a shoe to display local flavor. Like a pair of pinata shoes. Coming up with an idea that works for the shoe was a tough one.
Mallory Guzman and Edward Cardenas, who designed an action-sports shoe, explained their process.
"We came after school one day... just throwing out ideas here and there. Finally we came to an agreement, just sketching some drawings (just random) together."
Art teacher Irene Lozano said it started when one of her students brought her a flyer about the Vans shoe contest and she turned it into a class project.
"I think it was awesome. Like I said hey guys you draw on your shoes--you want to do it--like okay. It was fun."
Some students like Brenda Rocha even admitted they had a little previous experience for the project.
"I use to doodle on my shoes when I was in middle school, but this was just a fun thing to do. Even if we don't win."
But they could win... the whole thing, but they need your help. If they get enough votes for their entries, they make it to the elite five teams which means a paid trip to Los Angeles to pick the top winner. Now they're going to need your vote if they're going to make it to the finals... it could mean $50,000 for their art program.
We would sure like to see them win -- you can vote for them by going to the Vans Custom Culture voting site and vote for McCollum High School in the Southwest Region. One vote per computer smart phone or tablet. We have a link right here to make it easier for you to get there and vote... you have through May 3rd to vote.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE...
