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Fort Worth Zoo Hosts Children's Art Contest

Grab your paint brush and sharpen those colored pencils—the Fort Worth Zoo is hosting an art contest in honor of the arrival of Belle, daughter of the painting pachyderm Rasha. 

The contest will run through August 22 and is open to children 18 years old and younger. Entries are to be submitted by age categories: 0 to 3 years, 4 to 6 years, 7 to 9 years, 10 to 12 years, 13 to 15 years, and 16 to 18 years. Each child may submit one entry, and contestants’ work will be reviewed by a panel of judges. A prize will be awarded to each age group winner.

To enter the contest, create a piece of art that celebrates the arrival of the newest member of the Zoo’s Asian elephant herd. Entries must be completed on the official contest entry form and a registration form must accompany the entry in order to be considered eligible. Both forms can be downloaded from the Zoo’s website or picked up in the Guest Relations/Member Services office.

Entries may be rendered in ink, oil or acrylic paint, pastel, crayon or pencil. All entries must be no larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches and should not be matted, mounted, laminated, framed or folded. No photography, weak pencil, or computer-generated artwork will be considered.

Entries may be dropped off at the Guest Relations/Member Services office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily or mailed to: Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas, 76110, Attn: Art Contest. Entries must be received by August 22 in order to be considered eligible. Winners will be announced on August 29 and will have their work displayed at the Zoo from August 29 to September 2.

Rasha began her Fort Worth Zoo painting career in the summer of 1996 at age 23, the year after she arrived in Fort Worth. To encourage the development of her talent, animal keepers have incorporated 15- to 30-minute painting sessions into her management. “Pachyderm painting” and other forms of enrichment are conducted at the Fort Worth Zoo to enhance natural behaviors and provide a healthy and stimulating environment for the animals. Rasha is mother of the two elephants born at the Fort Worth Zoo, Bluebonnet (1998) and Belle (2013).

Story and photo courtesy of Alexis Wilson

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Wednesday, 07 August 2013