The 2005 EcoArts Festival

DEADLINES FOR ENTRIES SET

The Division of Environmental Quality said that registration forms and guidelines for the various EcoArts Festival competitions can now be picked up at its office in Gualo Rai. The registration deadline for all competitions is July 22, 2005, and forms may be submitted to DEQ.

The 2005 EcoArts Festival will be held on July 29, 30, and 31 at the American Memorial Park and will feature the following categories:

* Battle of the Bands
* Film Festival
* Sculpture Park and Visual Arts Gallery
* Cook-a-Rainbow Challenge
* Performing Arts (EcoDrama, Poetry Slam and Original Oratory)
* Recycle Wear Fashion Show

Also, food vendors who would like to participate in the EcoArts Festival are advised to register early to ensure that they are properly accommodated. Vendor registration forms can be picked up at Glimpses Advertising Saipan at the ground floor of the Gualo Rai Center on Middle Road. Forms must be submitted to Glimpses no later than July 15, 2005.

There is a non-refundable registration fee of $200 that includes the use of lights and a 20’ x 20’ tent space for operation purposes during the event. The fee is due and payable upon registration.

Food vendors are asked to bring their own tables, chairs, extension cords and other materials that they may need.

“And because this is a festival to promote environmental awareness, we ask that all vendors come prepared to separate their recyclable waste, such as aluminum cans, paper, and bottles, and dispose of all other garbage in appropriate receptacles,” said Tina Sablan of DEQ and a member of the EcoArts Festival committee.

For more information about the EcoArts Festival, contact Fran Castro or Sablan at 664-8500.

BEVERAGE VENDORS WANTED FOR BEER GARDEN

The EcoArts Festival committee is seeking any interested party, especially nonprofit organizations, that want to operate a beverage booth in a “beer garden” that will be featured during the festival.

There are at least three slots available for those interested. Vendors will need to operate the booth on all three days of the festival.

To sign up or for more information, contact Reina Camacho at 664-8500 during working hours or call 322-0741 in the evenings. You may also send inquiries to deqpio@vzpacifica.net.

CHEFS URGED TO SIGN UP FOR COOK-A-RAINBOW CHALLENGE

If you love to cook food, then this is an opportunity you would not want to miss: The EcoArts Festival will be holding the 2005 Cook-a-Rainbow Challenge, where you can cook the most colorful recipe using locally grown vegetables.

Not only will you win fabulous cash prizes, you will also get a chance to have your recipe printed in a cookbook, which will be distributed.

The cooking contest aims to promote healthy living and address concerns about diabetes and obesity.

It is open to all chefs— amateur or professional— and would require a dish that includes at least one of the following vegetable colors—red, yellow/orange, green and purple.

There are two categories: professional and amateur.

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

* Creative presentation
* Texture
* Originality
* Taste
* Use of fresh local ingredients

Contestants are required to prepare:

* 1 plate three weeks before the contest for recipe book photos.
* 1 plate for judges to taste from.
* 1 plate for presentation.
* A warming tray full for public tasting

The winning recipe will be printed in a cookbook for distribution by the Northern Marianas College Community Research Extension and Educational Services.

Submit an entry to the Division of Environmental Quality in the Gualo Rai Center on Middle Road no later than 4:30pm on July 22.

The 2005 Cook-a-Rainbow Challenge is among highlights of the first-ever three-day EcoArts Festival scheduled for July 29-31. The event, which will be held to promote environmental awareness, is being organized by DEQ, in partnership with various public and private organizations and volunteers.

The cooking contest will take place at the American Memorial Park on July 30, 2005 at 5pm.

For more information, contact Patricia Coleman of NMC-CREES at 234-3690 Ext. 1734; or Lynn Tenorio and Tanya Camacho of the Department of Public Health at 664-4030/3.

The 2005 Cook-a-Rainbow Challenge is a joint activity of DEQ, NMC-CREES and DPH.

ECOARTS’ BATTLE OF THE BANDS DEADLINE

The 2005 EcoArts Festival committee wishes to remind interested parties that registration forms for the Battle of the Bands are now available at the Division of Environmental Quality office in Gualo Rai. The forms should be submitted to DEQ no later than 4:30pm on July 22, 2005.

The Battle of the Bands will be held on July 29, 2005 from 6:30pm to 11pm at the American Memorial Park Amphitheater as part of the 2005 EcoArts Festival.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in three categories.

Judging of the band will be based on originality, musicianship, stage presence, crowd response and overall performance.

For more information, contact Angel S. Hocog of the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture at 322-9983/83 or Abdon Kaipat of the Division of Environmental Quality at 664-8529.

ECOARTS FEST TO FEATURE FILM FESTIVAL

This year’s first-ever EcoArts Festival, which is being sponsored by the Division of Environmental Quality, will include a Film Festival.

Dubbed the EcoArts FilmFest, the festival aims to feature films from local, regional, and international film makers that promote awareness of tropical island environments like that of the Northern Marianas.

The 2005 EAFF will run competitions in four categories: narrative, documentary, music video, and animation. A panel of judges will determine winners in each category, where the stakes are high, with $1,000 going to first place winners in each category.

2005 EAFF organizer Galvin Deleon Guerrero said he is excited about the possibility of international submissions. “We have ads posted in Pacific Magazine and on www.filmfestivals.com, which, we hope, will bring in entries from outside the CNMI.”

Aside from international submissions, Deleon Guerrero is also looking forward to several local submissions. “The 2005 Flame Tree Film Festival brought in almost 20 entries. That’s proof of a thriving film making community right here on island.”

Deadline for submissions is Friday, July 22. For more information on the FTFF, or to submit a film for the festival, contact Guerrero at 233-6296 or galvin@itecnmi.com.

ECOARTS FEST TO OPEN VISUAL ARTS GALLERY

Calling all visual artists.

EcoArts Festival organizers will be giving out a total of $1,000 in cash prizes for the best three entries to the visual arts gallery, which will be unveiled on July 30 at the American Memorial Park.

The theme is “Envisioning a Sustainable CNMI: Inspiring Conservation Through Art.”

Organizers said they are expecting primary media to be paintings, photographs or etchings with size not over 30 square feet.

Artists are encouraged to put their name or signature on the back of the entries, along with the name of the entry and any desired bio information.

Other guidelines:

* Prizes are limited to entries of original works of art and not derivative or rendition of another artist’s work.
* Artwork must be framed and ready for display.
* Limit of two entries per contestant.
* Artists can sell their work of they choose to.
* Artists are invited to submit a short statement of not more than 150 words about the significance of their entry to be attached to their application or artwork.

Entries will be judged according to originality, technical skill, adherence to theme, and overall impression.

Prizes are: $500 for 1st place; $300 for 2nd place; and $200 for 3rd place.

All final pieces must be delivered on or before July 29, 2005 at the Division of Environmental Quality. Unveiling of the visual arts gallery is at 1 p.m., July 30 at the American Memorial Park.

Registration forms are available at DEQ in the Gualo Rai Center along Middle Road.

Deadline for submission of registration forms is on July 22, 2005. For more information, contact Glen Hunter at glenhunter@gmail.com or at 483-2944.

The EcoArts Fest, which will be held on July 29, 30 and 31 to promote environmental awareness, is being organized by DEQ, in partnership with various public and private organizations and volunteers.