“HOPE of the Marianas” by Christian Apolonio emerged as the top pick, winning the Best of Show title at Bridge Capital’s 11th Annual Art Competition during the Flame Tree Arts Festival on April 20 at the Garapan Fishing Base. Apolonio’s artwork earned him $2,000 in prize money.

Richard Manglona’s piece “Princess Sosambre” clinched the prestigious Governor’s Choice award for this year, with Manglona receiving $1,000 in recognition.

Other notable winners included Greg Elliott’s “Eagle Ray” in the open division, Myla Deets’s “Talayeru Tranquility” for photography, Jiyun Kim’s “Flame Tree Festival” in the student category (ages 12-17), Michael Nishimura’s “Flores Abot” in painting and drawing, and Daniel Guo’s “Turtle” in the 11 and under category. Guo received a $750 prize, while the first-place finishers in each category were awarded $1,500 each.

In the second-place spots were Jun Seo Kim’s “Beauty in the Reef” in the open category, Milliana Camacho’s “Hooked on Paradise” for photography, Gwanhun Son’s “The Jewel of Saipan” in the student category (12-17), and a tie between Christian Apolonio’s “Hope of the Marianas” and Zhong Yan Tang’s “Daughter of the Sea” in painting and drawing. Joyann Kundu’s “Managaha Sunset” took second place in the 11 and under category, earning $500, while the other second-place winners received $1,000 each.

Bridge Capital LLC’s Vice President Bart Jackson expressed satisfaction with the event’s turnout, noting 276 entries this year. Judges, including House Vice Speaker Joel Camacho and Governor Arnold I. Palacios, faced difficulty selecting winners due to the high quality of submissions.

Jackson revealed plans to continue showcasing this year’s and past entries, potentially at the re-opened Paseo De Marianas. Additionally, Bridge Capital is exploring options for producing prints of entries collected over the competition’s decade-long history.

The Flame Tree Arts Festival, which featured 11 food and beverage vendors and 32 art booths, attracted hundreds of island residents from April 19-21, showcasing the vibrant creative talent of the CNMI community.

BRIDGE Capital has extended the deadline for its art contest to April 12. 

As of Friday, Bridge Capital’s Alex Palacios said the company had already received 233 entries but wanted to give artists more chances to submit their work.

More than $15,000 is at stake in the competition. The prize categories are as follows: 

Best of Show wins $2,000; painting and drawing, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; photography $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; open category, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; age category, 12-17 years old, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; age category, 11 years old and under, $750 for first place and $500 for second place; and the Governor’s Choice Award, $1,000.

Eligible participants can submit up to two works of art. Entries must be physically delivered to the Bridge Capital office at 1057 Micro Beach Road by 5 p.m. on April 12, Friday. The Bridge Capital office is located adjacent to Marianas Creations and Everest Kitchen.

Submissions should be in the form of traditionally accepted artistic materials and techniques, including 2-D art, such as painting, drawing, collage and photography, and 3-D art, which includes sculpture, metal work, carving, modeling, casting, pottery, glassblowing, etc. 

Digital artwork must be printed and framed on canvas or photo paper.

For more information, go to cnmiart.com, email events@bccnmi.com or call (670) 322-2222. 

THE Joeten-Kiyu Public Library on Thursday hosted an Easter fun event in collaboration with first lady Wella Palacios, the Friends of JKPL, and Bridge Capital LLC.

About 170 children participated in an Easter egg hunt. Participants were split up by age.

JKPL staff also transformed the interior of the library into a “mini carnival” with indoor carnival games, food vendors, an arts and crafts station, an egg painting station, and more.

THE deadline for the Bridge Capital 11th Annual Art Competition is on April 3 as organizers continue to encourage artists of all media to compete for over $15,000 in total prizes.

Julie Duenas, Bridge Capital office manager, said their company hopes to highlight all the ways Marianas residents can be creative. 

“We invite everyone to participate — photography, painting, drawing, wood carving, sculpture and digital art as well,” she said.

According to the official competition rules, eligible participants can submit up to two works of art.

All artworks must be physically delivered to the Bridge Capital office at 1057 Micro Beach Road by 5 p.m. on April 3, Wednesday. The Bridge Capital office is located adjacent to Marianas Creations and Everest Kitchen. 

Submissions should be in the form of traditionally accepted artistic materials and techniques, including 2-D art such as painting, drawing, collage and photography, and 3-D art, which includes sculpture, metal work, carving, modeling, casting, pottery, glassblowing, etc. 

Digital artwork must be printed and framed on canvas or photo paper. 

The contest is open to any person who has resided continuously in the CNMI for at least a year prior to Feb. 26, 2024. 

Every artwork entered in the competition is eligible to win three prizes: the Best of Show Award, the Governor’s Choice Award, and either 1st or 2nd prize in the category in which the artwork was entered. 

The rules stipulate that “although one person may submit up to two artworks to the competition, only one artwork can win prizes.” 

Prize categories are as follows: 

Best of Show wins $2,000; painting and drawing, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; photography $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; open category, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; age category, 12-17, $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place; age category, 11 and under, $750 for first place and $500 for second place; and the Governor’s Choice Award, $1,000. 

Duenas said in the five years she’s been at Bridge Capital, the annual art competition has highlighted the “magnitude of talent” present in the CNMI. 

“We definitely have a lot of talented individuals,” she said. “I’m really impressed by the talent that we have in the CNMI.”

In January 2024, Julie Ann M. Duenas, Office Manager at Bridge Capital, along with Alex Palacios, Community Relations and Property Acquisition Specialist, joyfully presented a $3,000 donation to the Marianas Visitors Authority, solidifying Bridge Capital as a gold sponsor for the Saipan Marathon 2024. Joined by an enthusiastic team from MVA, including Community Projects Specialists Ray Villagomez and Ed Diaz, Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion, Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas, and Special Assistant to the Managing Director Zenella Sablan, the occasion was marked with camaraderie and support. The marathon, set for March 9, 2024, promises an exciting event ahead.