Young artists honored in festival competition

The Festival of Arts honored young artists during an awards ceremony Aug. 14.

A jury made up of representatives from California First National Bank, the Pimco Foundation and the Festival of Arts selected first-, second- and third-place honorees in photography and two-and three-dimensional artwork, according to a news release.

Work from more than 300 Orange County students, from pre-kindergarten through high school during the 2015-16 school year, was considered.

Honorees received a medallion — gold, silver or bronze — and a certificate.

“We feel it is important to encourage creativity in students and support arts education,” Leslie Jewett, a Laguna Beach resident and chief financial officer with California First National Bank, said in the release.

Two Laguna Beach Unified School District students placed first in their respective categories. All grade levels listed reflect the 2015-16 school year.

Laguna Beach High senior Cailin Soloff placed first in photography for grades 10 through 12 with her photo “An Ethereal World.”

Andrew Collins, a kindergartner at Top of the World Elementary, earned first place for photography in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade for his photo “Flying in the Sky.”

Lars Knepper, a Top of the World kindergarten student, placed second with his photo “The Killers,” while Juliette French, a third-grade student representing the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, earned third place for her photo “Green Popsicle.”

Laguna Beach High freshmen Chloe Flanagan and Luci Becker placed second and third, respectively, in the two-dimensional media category for ninth grade. Flanagan’s piece is untitled; Becker’s is titled “Land and Sea.”

The festival, which features the work of 140 award-winning artists along with demonstrations, workshops, live music and food, is open through Aug. 31. The students’ artwork will be on display for the duration of the festival, at 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

For more information, visit foapom.com.

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Bryce Alderton, bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce