WHEELS OF FORTUNE

More than 400 kids from throughout the region entered our pinwheel coloring contest, part of the Our Kids: Our Business abuse prevention project. Below are the winners from each of the three age categories.

As always, the entries were judged by a volunteer panel of Spokesman-Review staffers. There were no formal standards, but we gave special consideration to originality, execution and creative use of color/medium. We tried hard to weed out the entries that were clearly crafted by mom and dad with little help from the child (if you can imagine such a thing), but in general, we rely on everyone to be honest.

Glitter was really popular with the younger kids, as evident in winning entries by 3-year-old Shyla Rutkowsky of Medical Lake and 4-year-old Lauren Wright of Spokane. Shyla’s entry also caught our attention for its bold but sparing use of black. Samuel Jennings, 4, from Spokane Valley, bucked the glitter trend with a bricolage of what appears to be Trix cereal.

For many kids, the individual arms of the pinwheel became a frame for other artwork. Abby Raap, a 6-year-old from Post Falls, illustrates this with her marker-and-glitter creation. Mead 6-year-old Caleb Marll won us over with his heartfelt declaration “I ♥ trackters” and lovingly crafted illustrations of same. And 8-year-old Cara Fredericks of Spokane created a striking spring scene with tissue paper and glue.

The winners in the oldest age group were all from Spokane. Shelby Slater, 12, submitted what is probably the first composition we’ve seen to include a volcano, a mermaid and a waving alien in a hot pink spacesuit. Eleven-year-old Tillery Murphy’s patterned design was more reserved but carefully executed. And 11-year-old Erin Zielke’s intricate paisley pattern, made with ink and marker, was a favorite of many in the newsroom.

Each of the winners receives a gift certificate for two admissions to Mobius Kids, which is in River Park Square at 808 W. Main Ave.

All of the entries, including the winners, will be on display at Mobius through the end of the week.

Thanks to everyone for entering, and watch for our next coloring contest around Halloween.

– Ken Paulman, features editor