Contest for young artists

Sonoma Community Center and the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art today announced the launch of a joint call to artists for kids, part of a two-part cultural arts exchange between Sonoma and its new sister city, Tokaj, Hungary.

Tokaj was named Sonoma’s newest sister city in April of this year. Both towns have deep roots to the wine industry, which meet in the history of Agoston Haraszthy.

Born in the 19th century, Haraszthy (1812-1869) emigrated to the US and founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857. A true pioneer, he was an explorer, investor, bridge-builder, sheriff, commissioner and merchant. Today, he is remembered as the father of the California wine industry.

This year marks Haraszthy’s 200th birthday and his legacy is being celebrated near and far. SCC created a large-scale likeness of Haraszthy to lead Sonoma’s Fourth of July parade and has been working with one of Haraszthy’s descendants, the curator of a larger “Haraszthy200 Festival” in Hungary, to produce two exhibitions.

The first will be drawn from a children’s call to artists, designed to share the artistic talents and abilities of Sonoma students with our new sister city. Works will be created, exchanged and exhibited in Sonoma and Tokaj.

Together, SCC and SVMA are inviting children to contribute entries in the following three categories, specific to the towns’ wine country heritage:

Ages 6-10 are invited to submit drawings about the grape harvest. Ages 11-14 are invited to submit drawings of Sonoma. Ages 15-18 are invited to submit portraits of Agoston Haraszthy.

Entries are due to Sonoma Community Center by August 10. They will be reviewed by a jury and the top three entries in each category will be awarded cash prizes (first place: $150; second place: $100; third place; $50).

Works created locally will be exhibited at the Theater of Tokaj during the month of September. Simultaneously, SCC will display similar works by the children of Tokaj.

Guidelines for entries are as follows: Artwork must be two-dimensional and may measure 8.5″ x 11″ or 11″ x 17″. Materials may include pastels, colored pencil, pencil, and charcoal.

For complete details contact 938.4626 x7 or Sonomacommunitycenter.org.