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Mo-Yain Tham Sister Cities International 1301 Pennsylvania Ave Ste 850 Washington, DC 20004 Phone 202.347.8630 ext. 4005 Fax 202.393.6524 communications@sister-cities.org |
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Special Projects Coordinator Phone(202) 347-8630 ext. 4877 esmith@sister-cities.org |
Sister Cities International Young Artists Awards Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 5, 2004
WASHINGTON - With ongoing strife in countries like Palestine and Sudan, this year's young artists found a peaceful solution to human conflict through their paintings, collages and drawings. Based on the theme, "Coming Together to Build a Better World," young artists from around the world expressed Sister Cities International's mission - to create global cooperation through grassroots efforts.
The award winners came from Los Angeles, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Lexington, KY; Vandalia, OH; Tulsa, OK; Ephrata, PA; Corpus Christi, TX; and Fort Worth, TX. Two award winners came from Beihai, Guangxi, China (sister city to Tulsa, OK) and Morayshire, Scotland, UK (sister city to Houston, TX).
Organizers felt that the competition allowed youth to find a creative outlet for a global concept. "Creating art can be an empowering experience for youth," said Tim Honey, executive director of Sister Cities International. "Visualizing a peaceful world at an early age helps young people realize that they have a stake in the future and can have a global impact."
Judges selected 10 winners from the immense numbers of submissions. Entrants are between the ages of 13 to 18 and represent nineteen countries.
Hailing from Morayshire, Scotland, award winner Terry Morton said, "I wanted to show that only if our differences are forgotten and we realize that we are all the same, can humankind unite." Each of the entries and award winners uniquely represented the theme.
All participants received a certificate acknowledging their contribution to capturing artistically the Sister Cities International mission. Award winners received a $300 cash prize and their artwork will tour sister city communities throughout the United States and abroad for the next year. Winning artwork can also be viewed on www.sister-cities.org, click on "programs." The Young Artists Competition began in 1988. Award winners follow in alphabetical order by state.
Alana Purcell comes from Los Angeles, California. In Piece/Peace, Purcell brings together iconic images from around the world to form a puzzle. The imagery was inspired by the borders of nations evoking a cut-out children's puzzle. Through the piecing together process, the artist shows how the unified whole breaks down arbitrary borders. Local contact: Nailah Crittendon, (213) 473-8570, ncrittendon@cad.lacity.org.
Hailing from Palo Alto, California, Hyun-Jin Yoo shows multiracial children bringing sections of their "love," "hope" or "justice" into a swirling globe with an image of a road. The work is called, Roadmap Around the Universe. The artist builds on the competition's theme by emphasizing that these ideals exist in every country. Each country's contribution adds to an existing "road," which is built on universal ideals such as "equality" and "faith." Local contact: Mary Ashley, (650) 494-1829, meashley@pacbell.net.
Tracey Collett,of Lexington, Kentucky, titled her work, The Human Touch With a collaged outstretched hand, the artist shows how the "human touch" can nurture life or create destruction. The images of polluting smoke stacks are contrasted with pictures of the environment that humankind must sustain. The image calls on humanity to take responsibility and protect the environment. Local contact: Kay Sargent, (859) 258-3137, kays@LFUGG.com.
Whitney Schieltz hails from Vandalia, Ohio. The piece, titled Montage of the World, captures the architectural wonders of the world in one image. From the leaning tower of Pisa to the Egyptian pyramids, Schieltz reveals the artist's love of traveling and lasting architecture. Skillfully drawn in watercolor, the artist showed the world coming together through its great structural works. Local contact: Beverly Schieltz, (937) 890-1321, BASchieltz@aol.com.
From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Davin Singh contributed a work showing people of different ethnicities and nations assembling a giant puzzle of the world. Titled, Putting the World Together, the artist shows people working together to carry and fit the pieces into place. The work carries the thematic idea of altruism making the world go round. Local contact: Bob Lieser, (918) 591-4750, boblieser@yahoo.com.
Qin Lue lives in Beihai, Guangxi, China, the sister city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Children of different ethnicities dance in an immense foliage of leaves in her work. Evoking the image of a global garden, the artist believes it will take humanity's joint efforts to create it. She titled her work, Coming Together to Build a Better World. Local contact: Bob Lieser, (918) 591-4750, boblieser@yahoo.com.
Nichole Phillips, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, created a work called, Colored Pencil. The fingers of two hands connect to form a bridge. Draped along this structure are different flags of the world. The artist conveys her hope that people will learn to work together to create a more peaceful world. Local contact: Robert Bensing, (717) 733-9525, robertl@ptd.net.
Representing Corpus Christi, Texas, Bryce Corbett's work reflects the artist's belief that "we build our own future and mend our own relationships throughout life." Called Monument of Tomorrow, the drawing shows a construction crew piecing together a girl that melds into a globe. Another hand reaches out and touches the girl's head in a gesture of comfort. Local contact: Chris Kallas, (361) 883-0639, chrisk@cctexas.com.
Raul Martinez comes from Fort Worth, TexasMartinez's artistic statement captures the overall theme of his work, noting "the fact (that) we all need to work together regardless of race, culture or beliefs... a brotherhood... a real International Family." Titled, Constructing an International Family, the work depicts a multiracial group building a global sign. Two doves hover nearby and reflect the need to build peace together. Local contact: Irene Chase, (817) 392-2651, Irene@fwsistercities.org.
Terry Morton is a native of Morayshire, Scotland, UK, the sister city of Houston, Texas. Morton presents an evocative image of hands holding together a skeletal frame around the world. Titled At the Heart of the World, Morton shows how the concerns of the world need to be at the heart of everyone's efforts. Local contact: Deanea Leflore, (713) 227-3395, dleflore@ghcvb.org.
About Sister Cities International: Representing more than 2,500 communities in 126 countries, Sister Cities International (www.sister-cities.org) is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs.