The 9th Annual
Children’s Art Festival
Survival of Arts in the Schools.” This was the theme at our 9th annual Children’s Art Festival that took place May 17th at the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Convention Center. STAR Education invited everyone to come and check out some of the awesome works of hundreds of talented local young artists! Visit the Gallery here!

This exhilarating affair was not only an art festival, but it was also a student art contest!

Family and friends were able to vote for their little Picassos’ and Picassas’ art to win some cool cash and prizes and the prestige of being named the Children’s Art Festival artistic extraordinaire!

By the time the art festival commenced there were hundreds of people lined up outside to catch a glimpse of the masterpiece artistry that filled the walls of the GATE Convention Center. ALL participants received an official artist I.D. card from STAR Education, which certified them as official artists. So there are no losers in this contest! The winners were:

Individual
1st Place- $100 Prize
Jonathan Cortez (1st grade) of Nora Sterry for "Giraffe collages"

2nd Place-$50 Prize
Shauna Rahbarpour (1st grade) for "Self-portrait" (Paint and Mixed Media)

3rd Place- Art Supplies (Prize)
Lily Campos Willis (5th grade) of Eshelman for "Birds" (Mixed Media Pastel and Tempera)

Group
Westwood Elementary won best Group project for “White Mosaic Tree Sculpture and Children’s Portraits”

There was also a chance for all of the visitors to get in on all of the action and create a masterpiece of their very own at our amazingly innovative, “Creation Stations”. Visitors made Picasso cookies had their faces painted and made a beautiful landscape button Mosaic wall. Also available were naturalist guided tours of the STAR ECO Station-an Environmental Science Museum and Exotic Wildlife Rescue Facility-where visitors met and greeted REAL animals, and learned how to do their part to save our beautiful planet! It was truly a day of art and adventure: Picasso would’ve been proud of these budding young artists!!!!

Visit the Children's Art Gallery here!

STAR ECO Station’s Children’s Earth Day proves to be the largest Earth Day in Los Angeles

“Los Angeles Children’s Earth Day brings in over 20,000 visitors”

Los Angeles- STAR ECO Station’s Children’s Earth Day event proved to be the crème of the crop as the event bought in over 20,000 visitors.

With appearances by Nickelodeon’s Keke Palmer (True Jackson VP), Simon Curtis (Spectacular), Ariel Winter (Warner Bros. Speed Racer) and former NBA star Cuttino Mobley;performances by local school children and professional performances brought by partner 102.3 radio-free KJLH, this was a day full of environmental lessons, adventure, food, entertainment and community fun! Environmentalists from all over the state of California and environmental partners; Heal the Bay, The Surfrider Foundation, Santa Monica Baykeeper Waterkeeper Alliance and 1-800-JUNK were all on hand to give families and children advice regarding keeping our planet clean. 

Over 30 schools performed in front of a sea of people that lined the blocked off street of Pearson.  There was so much excitement going on that it was tough for one to take it all in.  It was a fun-filled day that included dancing, singing, rapping and poetry reciting.  Perhaps the most exciting piece of the event was the awards ceremony where actress/singer Keke Palmer accepted the STAR ECO Station environmental hero award.  After which she led the crowd of thousands into reciting the eco pledge, which vowed to take care of the earth and preserve its vitality for future generations to enjoy. 

Following the awards ceremony everyone enjoyed an exhilarating performance by Grammy-Award winning producer Rodney Jerkin’s teen singing group sensations “Main St.” Children had a chance to play as cool activities kept kids of ALL ages “edu-tained” all day long, with face painting, story telling, crafts, and hands-on encounters with the rescued exotic animals at STAR ECO Station! At this year's Earth Day celebration we included “Sports Alley”, which included a basketball area where former NBA Star Cuttino Mobley performed demos, signed autographs, took photos and read a copy of his new book entitled “Cool Cats”.  Sports alley also included a Soccer area and a Skateboarding area where professional Master Skater Patrick Nogho performed skate demos, took photos and signed autographs.