Artworks from the Bridge Capital Art Contest are available for viewing at the DFS T-Galleria
NOW that the Flame Tree Arts Festival has concluded, the winning pieces from the 2023 Bridge Capital Art Contest are exhibited at the DFS T-Galleria in Garapan, according to Bridge Capital General Manager Bart Jackson.
He said the winners of this year’s competition are featured alongside the winning artworks from past competitions. The exhibit is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The winners of this year’s art contest are Jia Yi Li and Kim Jiyun, who tied for first place in the 12-17 age group category; Joseph Weaver, painting and drawing; Vlad Melnik, photography; and Gregorio Bacnis Jr., open artwork. Christian Apolonio won the Governor’s Choice Award.
Jackson said in total, there were 171 submissions in this year’s art competition. He added that with so many pieces it was a challenge to pick out the winners.
“The magnitude and the number of really high quality works of art is overwhelming and it’s such a great feeling to see how much talent there is in the CNMI,” Jackson added.
He said in one year, Bridge Capital has donated $30,000-$40,000 to the arts. Art is “intrinsic to what Bridge Capital is about,” he added.
As a patron of the arts, Bridge Capital also hosts the annual CNMI’s Got Talent competition, which gives away cash prizes in the performing arts. The company is likewise a supporter of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Jackson said.
At this year’s Flame Tree Arts Festival, first place winners each walked away with $1,500, while every second place finisher took home $1,000.
Jackson said all entries were originally planned to be displayed at the Flame Tree Arts Festival grounds in Susupe, but because the hot weather could harm the artworks, DFS T-Galleria was chosen as an alternate exhibit site.
The submissions that did not place first or second were featured at the Garapan shopping plaza last month. Jackson said even if certain pieces didn’t take home top honors in the competition, they were still of high quality.
He encourages artists in the Marianas to continue to create art, both for their own personal satisfaction and to potentially be featured in the annual contest.
“If you feel creative, then you should explore that side of yourself,” Jackson said. “Because that’s what it’s really about — art comes from inside you and being able to support that, and promote that, and foster that, really helps people become who they want to be. [Bridge Capital] wants to be there to help support those folks who create art.”
