Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Airport (LGB) is proud to announce the winners of its “Plane to See” aviation-themed illustration contest, which received coloring sheet design submissions from more than 100 talented local artists of all ages.

“We have so many gifted artists here in Long Beach that used this great opportunity to showcase our airport and highlight its rich history,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I look forward to seeing visitors to our city put their own colorful marks on these designs.”

Artists were asked to create drawings that reflect the diversity of the Long Beach community and make it “Plane to See” why LGB and its storied aviation history are so special.

Prizes of $500 were awarded to six local adult artists: Nathan Asplund, Jasmine Boyd, Margie Darrow, Jacki Hays, Andrea James and Curtis McGinnis. Asplund, Boyd and James each won more than one prize for submitting multiple works, with a total of 11 prizes given.

Five youth also received $500 prizes: Janell Cobian of Cabrillo High School, Cadence Malaluan of Marshall Academy of the Arts, Alexander Payton of Millikan High School, Dalia Reyes of Cabrillo High School and Lynette Zapet of Cabrillo High School.

In collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach, LGB leaders established the contest to update, diversify and localize its coloring sheets with uplifting illustrations of the airport, its history, famous aviators, women in aviation, airplanes and air travel in the modern age.

The selected drawings are being printed and distributed at community events, including at the upcoming Open House—a free, public celebration of LGB’s new Ticketing Lobby and Checked Baggage Inspection System facility—on Saturday, April 30. The coloring sheets also will be available to download online.

“We are so grateful to our local artists for taking part in this challenge. The incredible number of entries and the astounding level of work and creativity put into these submissions really touched my heart,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “It’s ‘plane’ to see our community’s love for LGB in these coloring sheets, which are going to provide travelers of all ages with some additional fun here at LGB.”

Demonstrating the diversity of aviation careers through an interactive, fun medium such as art motivates youth of all ages to explore the magic of flight and the possibilities of pursuing a career in the field.

"Every stroke made onto the coloring sheets is an exciting moment of creativity, from choosing colors to delicate shading,” said Arts Council for Long Beach Executive Director Griselda Suarez. “We are grateful for this collaboration that teaches all travelers about our history and demonstrates why Long Beach is a great destination."

For more information and to download coloring sheet pages visit lgb.org.

About the City of Long Beach 
Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Long Beach Airport 
Founded in 1923, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the oldest airport in California. Among its many awards, LGB was named a Top 10 airport in the 2020 USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice travel award contest for Best Small Airport. LGB offers non-stop service to several U.S. cities while supporting a healthy general aviation community with more than 300,000 annual operations. The airport is also a source of substantial economic activity and employment, with the LGB Aviation Complex generating $8.6 billion in economic impact and supporting 46,000 jobs. LGB is a self-supporting enterprise of the City of Long Beach and does not receive local tax dollars. The Airport prides itself in preserving its esteemed historic legacy and maintaining a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible operation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LGBAirport.