Best in Show winner Christian Apolonio, right, poses with the principals of Bridge Capital LLC.
Richard Manglona holds his award certificate as he poses for a photo with Bridge Capital LLC principals, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, first lady Wella Palacios and the competition judges: House Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst and Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna.
“HOPE of the Marianas” by Christian Apolonio was the Best of Show winner in Bridge Capital’s 11th Annual Art Competition at the Flame Tree Arts Festival on Saturday, April 20 at the Garapan Fishing Base.
Apolonio received $2,000 for his painting.
Richard Manglona’s “Princess Sosambre” is this year’s Governor’s Choice winner, and was awarded $1,000.
Greg Elliott’s “Eagle Ray” topped the open division; Myla Deets’s “Talayeru Tranquility” was the top winner in photography; Jiyun Kim’s “Flame Tree Festival” won the student (ages 12-17) division; Michael Nishimura’s “Flores Abot” was the top entry in the painting and drawing division; and Daniel Guo’s “Turtle” finished first in the 11 and under category.
Guo received $750 as his prize while the other first-place finishers were awarded $1,500 each.
Placing second were:
Open category — Jun Seo Kim’s “Beauty in the Reef.”
Photography — Milliana Camacho’s “Hooked on Paradise.”
Students (12-17) — Gwanhun Son’s “The Jewel of Saipan.”
Painting and drawing — a tie between Christian Apolonio’s “Hope of the Marianas” and Zhong Yan Tang’s “Daughter of the Sea.”
11 and under — Joyann Kundu’s “Managaha Sunset.”
Kundu took home $500 while the other second place finishers were each awarded $1,000.
Bridge Capital LLC’s Vice President Bart Jackson was pleased with the crowd turnout.
He said there were 276 entries in this year’s competition.
“Every judge said to me, ‘Bart this is so hard. This is so difficult to choose which is better than the other,’ ” Jackson said. “There are so many great paintings and so many great photographs and all kinds of creative things. … The people who reside in the CNMI are so creative, and it’s just such a blessing for us to support that … creativity by having an annual arts competition.”
The competition judges this year were House Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna and Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
The Governor’s Choice winner was chosen by the governor and first lady Wella Palacios.
Jackson said Bridge Capital LLC is considering ways to continue displaying this year’s entries as well as past entries, perhaps somewhere at the re-opened Paseo De Marianas.
He said another possibility is creating prints of the entries Bridge Capital LLC has collected in over 10 years of competition.
He said Bridge Capital is a proud supporter of the arts.
“That’s our task, that’s our passion,” Jackson said. “That’s why we’re here, whether it’s the performing arts, the way we do for CNMI’s Got Talent, or the visual arts as here, or even the literary arts — we support the library. We want to be around to help people find their creative side,” he added.
The entries to this year’s art competition were displayed during the 43rd Flame Tree Arts Festival at the Garapan Fishing Base. This year’s festival featured 11 food and beverage vendors and 32 art booths. Hundreds of island residents visited the event, which was held from April 19-21.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and first lady Wella Palacios with the winning entry for the Governor’s Choice Award, “Princess Sosambre.”
Gregg Elliot’s “Eagle Ray” is the top winner of the art competition’s open division.
Michael Nishimura’s “Flores Abot” was the top entry in the painting and drawing division.
“Hope of the Marianas” by Christian Apolonio is this year’s Best of Show awardee.
