2005 CHILDREN’S ART CONTEST

June 5^th, 2005

Open letter to our distinguished community

Background: Each year, during the Philippine Fair and Parade, the Philippine-American Foundation for Charities, Inc. art committee sponsors an art contest for the children attending the fair. The winning entries entitle the children to a cash award, a certificate of merit, and the first opportunity for these budding artists to exhibit their work and receive public recognition for their accomplishment. The PAFC sponsored traveling art exhibit, “Brown Strokes on a White Canvas” has offered a venue each year for the childrens art work to be exhibited. In 2001 contest winners were featured at The Foundry Gallery in Washington, DC, the 2002 contest winners were featured at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, in 2003 the contest winners were displayed at the Harmony Hall Regional Cultural Center, in 2004 the contest winners appeared at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial library and in 2005 the contest winners will be featured at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial library and The University of Phoenix located in the Reston, Virginia.

Art Contest 2005 Invitation: On Sunday, June 5^th during the Philippine Fair and Parade, on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the art committee of the PAFC Philippine Festival Committee will once again conduct an art contest for children. This year we will offer the children an opportunity to interpret the Philippine Festival theme, “Bayanihan: Building Strong Communities.” We would be honored if your children would participate in the contest and would encourage you to talk with them about the meaning of the theme to assist them in preparation for the art contest. To facilitate these conversations, we have included a glossary of terms (attached).

• What?: On-site art contest for children, ages 3 – 16. Each age category has a 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place prize awarded. The age categories are:

  • 3 to 6 years old

  • 7 to 9 years old

  • 10 to 13 years old

  • 14 to 16 years old

• When?: Sunday, June 5^th 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Where?: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 3^rd & 7^th Streets Washington, DC, 2005 Philippine Festival – Children’s Art tent located in the Inter-active cultural booth.

• Details?: Each child is given a color-coded card (for each age category) to complete with their name, address, telephone number and Email address, which is then taped to the back of their artwork to allow the art to be judged entirely on its merit. The Brown Strokes on a White Canvas artists, George Washington University Philippine Cultural Society members and winners from the previous children’s art contest will be on hand during the June 5^th festivities to interact with the children. Each first place winner is entitled to a check for $50.00; second place winners receive $30.00 and third place winners receive $25.00

• Winners: Winners will be notified by telephone and certificates of merit and cash awards will be distributed during the Dr. Jose Rizal Day Youth Awards celebration at the Philippine Embassy on Saturday, June 25^th.

GLOSSARY

(for the 2005 CHILDREN’S ART CONTEST, June 5th, 2005)

Bayanihan– “Bayanihan” is a noun that means a cooperative undertaking; concerted effort; especially, the act of working together.

Building – (noun) “Building” means a structure that is built, or it can mean the act, process, art, or occupation of constructing.

Strong – (adjective) “Strong” has many meanings, but for the art contest we will use the meaning “capable of enduring.”

Communities– For this contest we will use the definition, “a group having common interests” and “identity”.

For more information about the cultural impact of Filipinos in America, please view this educational website: http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino

Invitation: The 2005 Brown Strokes on a White Canvas exhibit at Martin Luther King, Jr., memorial library in Washington, DC will feature a sampling of all of the previous children’s art contest winners, including 4 young adults who continue to express themselves artistically, in part due to the PAFC sponsored recognition they received as children. The works were created in celebration of Philippine Independence and cover a wide spectrum of expression.

The art committee of the Philippine Festival, sponsored by the Philippine-American Foundation for Charities, Inc., (PAFC) extends a very special thanks to all the parents and Lolos and Lolas who encourage and support the children’s artistic expression and a special thanks to those who have generously donated funds to continue this self-sustaining program of PAFC. We are deeply grateful to Mark Cabrera & Associates, Re-Max Pros for his generosity in underwriting all expenses related to the children’s art contest this year.

For further information please contact Art Committee co-chairs, Julian Oteyza, Email: joteyza@erols.com; (703) 969–5469 or Linda Pirrone, Email: LPirrone@comcast.net, (703) 494–3236.