At the end of 2014, the Mendocino Rotary Foundation officially completed its successful community fundraising effort and purchased the land for Rotary Park, that 2-acre parcel at the corner or Lansing and Main Streets in Mendocino. What happens next? You, the members of the community, will have input into what happens next, thanks for Chatter Bishoff. In the meantime, the Mendocino Rotary club will be trimming trees to protect park visitors from falling limbs.

Here the latest news about the future of Rotary Park:

 Rotary Park Art Competition Deadline was  Extended to May 22 

The Mendocino Rotary Foundation has announced the Chatter Bishoff Rotary Park Art Competition. The competition, which was open to professional and amateur artists of all ages. Entries are currently being judged.

The purpose of the competition is to imagine the open space recently purchased by the Foundation known as Mendocino Rotary Park, at the intersection of Lansing and Main Street, and to involve the community in planning its future.

The competition will award cash prizes underwritten by philanthropist Chatter Bishoff. The art will be a vehicle to create community dialogue. An exhibit to be held at the completion of the competition will be an opportunity for community members to give additional feedback on the ideas illustrated in the artwork.

No one set of ideas will be elevated as the solution to be implemented. Rather, the community will be able to view all the ideas as an impetus for discussion about the future of the park.

Entrants are asked to consider the inclusion or exclusion of many possible components in their vision of the park: paths, benches, fences, signage, gazebo, outdoor stage, and farmers’ market.

The competition is open to people of all ages in four categories: Professional Artist, Adult, Teenagers, Youth 12 and under. Two equal cash awards will be given in each category. Awards will be based on the quality and originality of the art. The four judges will be Chatter Bishoff, Barry Cusick, and artists, Suzi Long and Betty Cottle. All two-dimensional media are eligible. Submissions must be mounted on Black or White foam board or mat board no larger than 11 x 17. Mat boards will be available for school entries through a grant application.

Awards in the Professional and Adult categories will be $500 each. Two awards of $350 will be given in the Teenager category. Two awards in the Youth category will be $150 each.

Details will be announced for the Art Exhibit to be held in the Community Center of Mendocino at the end of the competition period.

Entries may be mailed to Rotary Art Competition P.O. Box 102, Mendocino, CA 95460 or emailed as a PDF format to RotaryFoundation@MendocinoRotary.org. Include your name, address, phone and email contact information.

The Mendocino Rotary Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) affiliate of the Rotary Club of Mendocino.