Plea for peace wins international prize

At just 10 years old, Shaviva Winslade has already captured attention with her plea for peace by winning the International Mayors for Peace Children’s Art Competition for her age group.

Her painting of silhouetted people won her the top prize in the six to 10-year-old category from 2,300 entrants around the world.

Shaviva, or Viva as she is known, is a student at Tasman Bay Christian School after being home-schooled in the Marlborough Sounds and has been painting since she was little. She chose to paint the silhouettes of people so they could represent anyone and everyone.

“The silhouettes mean it doesn’t matter what age, what ethnicity, how rich or poor you are. It just means people should unite in peace.”

Her mother, Melissa Melodious, was asked to sing a song about peace for the competition’s award ceremony and that prompted her to ask Viva is she wanted to enter.

She says Viva has a “wisdom beyond her years” that showed in her painting.

Another local painter, Gracie Quinney, was awarded a special prize for her artwork, and along with Shaviva will be presented their certificates by Tasman Mayor Tim King at the March council meeting.

The competition has been held since 1982 and this year attracted entries from 123 cities across 21 countries.