By Alex Wilks/For the Now-Leader
CLOVERDALE — The smell of deep fried corndogs and sugar-coated mini donuts was not enough to distract Takaya Cameron and her father Jordan Cameron from spray painting their way to victory at the Cloverdale Rodeo during the May long weekend.
The duo won the first-place prize of $500 at the 5th annual Cone Zone Experience’s Distracted Driving Graffiti Artist Competition after their mural received the most votes.
The event is designed to teach roadside safety to youth ages 10 to 16 while driving through a go-kart circuit set up with real life work zone hazards.
As Takaya sprayed a few finishing touches of colour to her masterpiece, he nine-year-old giggled.
“I think we’re going to win first place.”
And when the votes were tallied on Monday afternoon, she was right – the pair’s Guardians of the Galaxy mural came out on top.
It took Takaya and her father more than 10 hours and about 20 cans of paint to finish their space-inspired mural. Baby Groot, a fictional tree-like superhero, is seen riding a space rat like a bull through a colourful galaxy backdrop. His tree trunk arms are swinging like a cowboy lasso to fit with the rodeo-styled theme. The space rat is also seen clenching a stop sign as a way to promote safe driving awareness to the children finishing the go-kart circuit.
“I really like that we got to do the little comets and the space background,” said Takaya, admiring her sketch as it came to life.
Dad Jordan said the weekend’s sizzling temperatures made it that much more challenging for his daughter.
“It’s a lot of work for a kid,” he said.
Bob Nielsen, organizer and founder of the Cone Zone Experience, said he created the annual event to urge the public to drive more safely.
“One of the biggest issues is the public and traffic control on the highway,” he said. “We’ve got to spread the word somehow.”
Nielsen said he believes that targeting youth before they start to drive will help rid them of bad driving habits because they are at the most impressionable age. He also believes that sending messages through graffiti inspired art will help to solidify the Cone Zone message.
“I’m an art fan and these artists are phenomenal,” Nielsen said.
About 14 artists participated in the competition.
Takaya said she hopes to use her prize money to buy some new drawing supplies and if enough is leftover, she plans to add to her travel fund for a trip to Mexico in October.