Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

The 2023 Young Artist Showcase is a continuing effort to further engage youth with the Santa Barbara Sister Cities.

For the last 34 years Sister Cities International (SCI) has sponsors an annual young artist showcase, encouraging youth from around the globe to express the mission of SCI through original artwork. Sister Cities International aims to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual; one community at a time showcases the importance of travel and exchange in achieving peace.

Theme: Peace by Piece: Food Security in My Community: The young artists & poets showcase encourages youth and member communities to submit innovative, thoughtful, and impactful creations that emphasize various aspects of food security including the impact ofclimate change on food production and food consuption, in their own communities. Poetry must not exceed 200 words - Submissions must be in English.

Artists must be between 13 and 18 years of age. The deadline to submit artwork is March 21, 2022. All entries must meet the criteria and guidelines listed below:

· Media accepted in this category include oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencil, crayon, ink, marker, etching, collage, etc.

· Only two-dimensional (2D), unframed and no larger than 24 in. x 36 in. artwork will be accepted.

· All entries must be original and conform to Sister Cities International’s policy on plagiarism.

PRIZES: 1^st Place Winner - $250 * 2^nd Place Winner - $150 * 3^rd Place Winner - $100

Please make arrangements to deliver your entry to Garcia Architects, 122 E. Arrellaga St. Judging will take place on April 22, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. at 2215 Santa Barbara St. All artists are invited to attend.

We encourage our youth to be creative and examine all aspects of this year’s theme, including:

· How has your community been affected by food security during floods, fires and the recent pandemic?

When describing their artwork in the application form, students are encouraged to discuss how their local communities and/or international cities are approaching this year’s theme. Students can talk about collaborative efforts between communities, give project examples, or explore areas of potential cooperation within the food security community. Descriptive paragraphs should be written by the student.

Fun finds in kids and adult books at pre-Oscar Suites this year. Dubois Pelin & Asssociates producers of fantastic major pre-Oscar and Emmy events did not disappoint this year with the inclusioin and introduction to some fine new writers who signed books and answered questions in the DPA suite in the Luxe Sunset Hotel.

With a bevy of Van Gogh Exhibitions around the country Book Shops are filling the shelves with related publications! Enjoy!