Two Manzano Day School students were among the nine finalists selected to display their artwork in Guadalajara, Mexico for The Sister Cities International Program.

Here is a note from their mother:

“The Sister Cities International Program began in 1956 as a creative force for international cooperation and goodwill through community action. Albuquerque’s participation in the program started in 1965 as the Albuquerque Sister Cities Committee and became the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation in 1983.

The Foundation interacts with the city government through the Albuquerque City Board, which serves to implement the city ordinance requiring "the promotion and encouragement of private and public programs to further the development of greater friendship and understanding between the people of Albuquerque and cities of other nations." Together, they sponsor programs designed to foster cultural and commercial exchange between Albuquerque and our sister cities.

The city of Guadalajara, Mexico invited Albuquerque Sister Cities to their city the last two weeks of October 2005, for an exposition and asked that the classes of art teachers, Joan Ire and Carol Allison, of the New Mexico Art League would paint works about what makes Albuquerque special.

Most of the kids who participated were in the 9 and 10 year old age group. The group was a mixture of more advanced or experienced painters with students who just started art classes and were all wonderful. Copies of the selected artwork are now being displayed at The Palace of The Governors.

I am attaching some photos I took of the awards ceremony. We have the framed original artwork and I am sure the girls would be happy to show you their work. They worked on their pieces once a week for three months and are very proud as I am :-).”