Red Wing graduate honored in international art contest

A Red Wing High School student is a runner-up in Sister Cities International’s 2012 Young Artists and Authors Showcase.

Cole Jacobson, who graduated this spring, used hands reaching toward a composite globe in his piece. He is an honor roll student.

For over two decades, the showcase has given young artists from around the globe the opportunity to express their vision for a more unified, peaceful world.

This year’s applicant pool demonstrated a high level of talent, effort, passion and dedication, organizers said. Young artists and authors reflected on the theme “Youth as a Catalyst for Change” through a variety of visual media, poetry and essays.

This year’s theme reaffirms the power of youths in fostering positive change in society and their potential as future leaders.

Winning art will be on display at the Sister Cities International’s annual conference July 12-14 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Joshua Williams of Hampton, Va., won the grand prize. Representing Kalingrand, Russia, Natalia Galkina won the grand prize for international students.

Runners-up included Mariah Soldevilla of Volusia County, Fla.; Christine Wilda of Columbia Heights, Minn.; Yasaman Sahba of Southlake, Texas; and Morgan Demski of Naperville, Ill..

Sister Cities International facilitates nearly 2,000 partnerships in 136 countries on six continents between 600 communities in the United States with similar municipalities abroad.

The organization represents citizen diplomats who work to promote their mission of creating world peace and cultural understanding through economic and sustainable development programs, youth and education projects, arts and culture and humanitarian assistance.

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