A Writing & Art Contest for Kids to Share Their Love for the Lone Star State!
Over 500 students from across the state of Texas participated in this year’s
I Am Texas Writing and Art Contest hosted by The Bryan Museum in
Galveston. Twenty-one talented students will receive money and have their
writing or art published in a yearly Historian’s Journal, produced by the
iWRITE Organization, which will become part of the Museum’s permanent
library collection!
The art and writing finalists will be invited to a special reception at The
Bryan Museum this fall to celebrate their success in making it to the final
stage of the competition. In addition, all art finalists get to see their work
displayed on the walls of The Bryan Museum in the Donald E. McMahon
Student Expo Space for the remainder of the year. Just like professionals!
The Donald E. McMahon Student Expo Space will showcase an array of
talented artists in grades 2-12 whose artwork received top marks. These
young artists used mediums such as oil paint, watercolor, acrylic paint,
alcohol marker, and colored pencil. They interpreted the “I Am Texas”
theme with a variety of images including landscapes, bluebonnets, birds,
longhorn cattle, and self-portraits. Houston-area artwork on display is
from students in the following districts: Fort Bend ISD, Galveston ISD,
Katy ISD, Lamar Consolidated ISD, Liberty ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and a
private school in Houston.
Houston-area writing finalists who submitted letters and fiction and
nonfiction stories were inspired by art or artifacts in The Bryan Museum
collection. Elementary students wrote letters to Texas heroes such as Sam
Houston, Charles Goodnight, and Texas Ranger Jack Duncan. Other letters
were more personal – to a favorite teacher or to a relative with Texas roots,
for example. Older students researched specific artifacts in the Museum
and wrote about their history or used an item as a muse for a personal
essay. Creative writers drew their inspiration from Museum pieces such as
the sword that captured Santa Anna, an old-fashioned revolver, and a
drawing by Texas artist Jose Cisneros. Writing finalist for this year’s contest
include students from the following districts: Clear Creek ISD, Columbia-
Brazoria ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Galveston ISD, Huntsville ISD, Katy ISD,
Spring Branch ISD, Stafford ISD, Sweeny ISD, and private schools in
Houston, Galveston, and Pearland, as well as area homeschool students.
To see the student artwork up close, read the winning stories, or view the
art and artifacts that inspired such creativity, visit The Bryan Museum in
Galveston. To learn more about the 2024 I Am Texas writing and art
contest, go to www.iamtx.org.
“I am writing to thank you about your efforts during the Texas Revolution
and its effects. The Texans’ revolt was initially unsuccessful, with the early
massacres of the Alamo and Goliad, but you remained strong. I believe,
without a doubt, that Texas wouldn’t be as great as today without your
leadership.”
Kevin L. was a 5 th grader at Spring Branch Academic Institute
in Spring Branch ISD when he entered the contest.
Take a Closer Look by Olivia B., Private School in Houston – Highschool Art Finalist
Our Future in The Horizon by Annabella Q., Katy ISD – Highschool Art Finalist
Texas Prairie Sunrise by Lydia I., Northside ISD – Middle School Art Finalist
Texan’s Original Sport by Aaryahi C., Fort Bend ISD – Elementary Art Finalist
