Bold works honored at Via Arte

Oct. 25—The rain, then a power washer, may have wiped away the chalk masterpieces of this weekend's Via Arte but nothing can erase them from the hearts of those who experienced their beauty.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art shared the awarded pieces and artists from this year's Italian street painting festival. This year's winning works ranged from colorful epics to detailed masterpieces.

Visit @thebmoa on Instagram or Facebook to view all the winning works.

Professional awards

Best in festival: Mayte Mendez for Caravaggio's "Bacchus" (square sponsored by Tejon Ranch Co.)

Best use of color: Ana Meza for SEKTA's "Amor Eterno" (square sponsored by Melissa Fortune and Bruce Beretta)

Best technique: Kaylee DeBerti for detail work of William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "Dante and Virgil" (square sponsored by Bakersfield College)

Best rendition of a master: Dely Avila for Georgia O'Keeffe's "From Faraway, Nearby" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

People's choice: Bakersfield Christian High School for Maria Jesus Contreras' "Goldfish" (square sponsored by Rep. Kevin and Judy McCarthy)

Honorable mentions: Emily Loyd for Edward Mason Eggleston's "Smiling Through"(square sponsored by Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County); Lesley Villarreal for her original piece "The Queen" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art); and Sarah Hahn for an untitled work by Rodrick Jackson's "Untitled" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

School/group awards

Best overall school: Highland High School for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's "Spirit of Montmartre" (square sponsored by Kathy and Steve Hair)

Best use of color: Stockdale High School for Frederic Leighton's "Flaming June" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

Best technique: Ridgeview High School for Tamara de Lempicka's "Jeune Fille en Vert" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

Best rendition of a master: Del Oro High School for Alexandre Cabanel's "The Fallen Angel" (square sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

Honorable mentions: Centennial High School for Titian's "Portrait of Clarice Strozzi" and Liberty High School for Gustave Courbet's "Desperate Man" (squares sponsored by Bakersfield Museum of Art)

Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.