Talented teens Talented teens (June 11, 2004)

PCAC honors 'young artists' for achievements, potential
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Last week a tribute was given to four talented Pleasanton teens who create music, poetry, art and films.

Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council presented its 2004 Young Artists Achievement Awards at a dinner at the Pleasanton Hotel, where the teens presented their "works of art," much to the delight of the audience. The awards included $500 for each student.

Weiwei Wen, 15, a sophomore at Amador Valley High, was chosen in the Visual Arts category for her watercolors, three of which were on display. She said she will use the $500 award funds for classes and supplies.

"I love the richness of the vibrant watercolor colors and the transparency that can be created," said Wen in her application. "They give a look of simplicity and clarity in life. Also the unpredictable nature of watercolor connects to how life is changeable. My mistake could enhance the whole appearance of my painting or make it look worse."

Noah Lagin, recipient of the Speech, Drama and Dance award, showed a video that helped earn him the honor, a spoof on a high school student running for president of the United States. The Foothill High senior has been a Tri-Valley ROP TV Media student and produced, edited and acted in six feature projects. "In this extraordinary environment only very creative, independent students excel," wrote his teacher Elizabeth Dwyer in her recommendation. "Noah is one of those students."

Rachel Onojafe, 17, who is home-schooled, was recognized for Creative Writing. She read her two prize-winning poems, titled "Stories" and "What to Say," but also told the 52 guests at the dinner that she enjoys all the verbal arts from written history to speech. She said she intends to use the award money to further her education in the arts - "film, photography, but especially writing."

Pat Carroll, 17, who was recognized in the Music category, had just learned that day that he had received the Best Musicians High School Award from the prestigious Down Beat Jazz Magazine.

Musician Don Lewis said it was very difficult to choose from among the 12 musician applicants, due to the diversity, their maturity and their motivation to play music that would be "felt by the hearts of the listeners."

He finally picked Carroll, a composer, saxophonist and "already a humanitarian in philosophy," said Lewis. "He exemplified many of the qualities of the great people I've met in my life."

Carroll, a senior at Foothill High, delighted the audience with his saxophone playing, accompanied on the drums by Hamir Atwal of Deer Valley High School in Antioch.

PCAC also gave three corporate awards, to CarrAmerica Corp. for hosting the annual Poetry and Arts Festival; to Herald/ANG Newspapers for free advertising; and to Pleasanton Weekly for its coverage of the arts and for choosing PCAC as a recipient of its Holiday Fund.

The Visual Arts Award was given in memory of Phyllis Wentworth, whose dedication to the arts included co-sponsoring the fundraising ball at Stoneridge Mall for the renovation of the Amador Theater in the 1980s.

For more information about PCAC, call 461-4864 or visit www.pleasantonarts.org.

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