Royal art student wins additional state award

ROYAL CITY — Royal High School junior Edgar Montoya took home a second award in addition to the previously announced Judges' Choice Award at the 34th annual Superintendent's High School Art Show.

Montoya received the first-ever Governor's Arts Award at a reception in Olympia Friday.

His clay sculpture entry was selected out of nine winners in the state to receive the Governor's Choice Award, said Educational Service District 105 Public Information Officer David Goehner.

The award is the first of its kind, Goehner added.

Montoya attended the art show's awards reception in Olympia Friday, where he received the awards. The sculpture was one of 116 student entries in the state competition.

The winning clay sculpture Montoya created, titled "The Balance," depicts two bears back-to-back. One bear holds a fish and the other bear holds an ax.

"Edgar did a great job of describing his art during the reception," said Service District 105 Regional Arts Education Coordinator Aurelio Garcia. "He was supported by his family and represented our region well."

The piece was purchased for $200 by the state Board of Education. It is on display for one year at the foyer of the state superintendent's office in Olympia.

A picture of Montoya's sculpture and the other winning pieces are included in an art show calendar distributed by the state for 2007 to 2008, Goehner said.

Montoya's sculpture was entered in the state competition after being named a regional winner at the Educational Service District 105 art show. Seven pieces in the district advanced to state, and Montoya's was the only one to receive a state award, Goehner said.