City Caps Off Be Beautiful Bloomington Month With Arbor Day Celebration

City Caps Off Be Beautiful Bloomington Month With Arbor Day Celebration

Date of Record: April 28, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2006

For more information, contact:
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan and the City of Bloomington rounded out April as Be Beautiful Bloomington Month with an Arbor Day Celebration at Crestmont Park Shelter today. The ceremony honored Bloomington's distinction as a Tree City USA for 22 consecutive years with a tree planting and several speakers.

"Bloomington boasts more than 18,000 trees on public property alone, which contributes directly to the quality of life for residents and visitors," Kruzan said. "The City understands the importance of trees and tree care and is striving to preserve the environmental splendor that encompasses and is very much a part of our community."

In addition to Kruzan, featured speakers included Mick Renneisen, Director of Parks and Recreation; Burney Fischer, Tree Commission member; and Chris Sturbaum, Common Council President. Student council representatives from Tri-North Middle School were also in attendance.

The speakers discussed the importance of trees, conservation, greenspace and environmental care in the Bloomington community.

At the ceremony, Kruzan announced details for the second annual Tree City Arts Competition sponsored by the City of Bloomington. The arts competition is open to adult and youth participation, and is free to enter.

"Just as trees are key to our community character, we also appreciate the importance of highlighting the artistic and creative talents of our community members," Kruzan said. "Once again we look forward to seeing the unique tree pieces that will adorn City Hall."

Deadline for entries is Friday, August 11, 2006, at 5 p.m. All works should be dropped off at the atrium of City Hall, 401 N Morton St on Thursday, Aug. 10 or Friday the 11th between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The works will be on display at City Hall through September and the public will be encouraged to visit and vote for their favorite pieces. Winners will be announced at the end of September. Following the City Hall exhibition, the pieces will be showcased at local caf�and wine bar Tutto Bene, located at the corner of 3rd and Rogers, throughout October.

Tree City Arts Competition details are as follows:

Competition Guidelines

• Submissions are limited to one original piece per artist.
• Open to artists who live in Monroe, Owen, Greene, Lawrence or Brown County.
• Works submitted to last year's Tree City Arts Competition are not eligible to be entered again this year.
• All work must have trees as its central theme.
• Artwork can be no larger than 48 inches by 48 inches and two-dimensional pieces must be ready to hang.
• Work must be hand-delivered Thursday, August 10 or Friday, August 11 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to the City Hall atrium, 401 N Morton St.
• Work may be for sale; all sales must be handled by the artist.
• To be considered for prizes, all work must remain on display for the duration of the competition.
• The public will be encouraged to vote for their favorites and winners will be announced in September.
• Upon delivery of work, artists will be required to sign a release and complete a label describing their work (title, size, medium, etc.).

Type of accepted works

• Paintings
• Drawings
• Photography
• Computer-Generated Art
• Mixed Media
• Prints
• Sculptures

Deadline
Works must be delivered to City Hall no later than Friday, August 11, 2006, at 5 p.m.

Prizes
The First Place winner will receive a Memorial Tree, designated with a limestone plaque (each tree and plaque valued at $425). Second and third place winners will receive a Memorial Tree (each valued at $250).
All trees will be planted in one of the City's public parks.

More Information
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Maria Heslin, City of Bloomington Communications Director, at 349.3569 or [heslinm@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:heslinm@bloomington.in.gov] or visit [www.bloomington.in.gov|www.bloomington.in.gov/].

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