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Press Release/PSA samples
Celebrate cultural diversity at the Bowling Green International Festival Saturday September 21, 10AM-10PM on Fountain Square. Featuring music, dance, food and merchandise from around the world and free children’s activities all day long. For information go to http://BGInternationalfest.com.
The Bowling Green International Festival will take place September 21, 2002 10AM-10PM on Fountain Square in Bowling Green, KY. The celebration of cultural diversity will feature three band stages, a dance stage, and a foreign film “theatre”. Entertainers and vendors represent countries from around the world. The event will also include a Native American Gathering, Oktoberfest Tent, an artshow, a photo exhibit and a wide variety of free children’s activities and edu-tainment displays. For information go to http://BGInternationalFest.com or call 796-2777.
The Mark Oval Black Juried Arts Exhibition, presented by the Bowling Green International Festival, will show September 1-30 at Spencer’s Coffeehouse on Fountain Square. The exhibit features professional and emerging artists from the region with work from various two-dimensional media. A reception will be held September 20, 6-8PM as part of the Downtown Gallery walk which features exhibits in various local galleries including Boomerang, The Capitol Arts Center, Lot 916, Memphis Marsha’s and the Pots Place. For more information visit http://BGInternationalFest.com
Celebrate cultural diversity at the Bowling Green International Festival Saturday September 21, 10AM-10PM on Fountain Square. Featuring music, dance, food and merchandise from around the world and free children’s activities all day long. See the Faces of Kentucky Photography Exhibit at Taste of Europe. Support area professional and emerging artists by purchasing and viewing work at the Mark Oval Black Juried Art Exhibition at Spencer’s Coffeehouse throughout September. A reception and awards ceremony will be held September 20, 6-8PM as part of the Downtown Gallery Walk. Get details at www.BGInternationalFest.com or call 796-2777
The website at http://BGInternationalFest.com contains many more details, including descriptions of the entertainers and vendors, all previous press releases and a photo gallery with printable resolution pictures.
For more information contact:
Kim Mason, Executive Director
270.796.2777
info@bginternationalfest.com
www.BGInternationalFest.com
History of Bowling Green International Festival
The International Festival grew out the 1986 Ethnic Folk Festival, sponsored by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and Bowling Green/ Warren County NAACP and the 1988 JapanFest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1989, the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission and the Chamber of Commerce joined forces to produce Bowling Green's first International Festival.
The first three festivals were held on Memorial Day, but in 1994, it was moved to the fall in an effort to include more Western Kentucky University international students and other schools in the community.
In 2001 the festival drAMatically increased the number and variety of performances it offered and attendance soared from the 3,000-6,000 it enjoyed in the 1990's to achieving its goal of 8,000-10,000 festival goers.
General Information
On September 21, 2002, beautiful Fountain Square Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky will become an International Paradise of nationalities coming together to proudly share their unique cultures. The festival is a traditional celebration that honors the heritage and diversity among our residents through: Music, Dance and Performance, Exhibits, Demonstrations, Authentic Foods, Merchandise Vendors
Children are a major part of the Bowling Green International Festival. Though many of our activities are recreational and all are fun, the focus is on education and cultural enrichment. Children will become acquainted with the customs of their counterparts in far away lands through playing their games, adorning their traditional costumes and experiencing how they celebrate.
Mission
1. To celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity in the region and around the world.
2. To educate area residents about the value of international cultures.
3. To promote appreciation of the various international cultures and people within our own community.
4. To empower international residents to fully participate in the life of the community.
Board Members
- Marty Deputy, President - Bowling Green International Center
- Dr. Larry Caillouet, Vice President - WKU International Programs
- Donna Kirwan, Secretary - WKU Communications
- Ersa Austin, Treasurer - retired
- Jim Bullington - ReMax Real Estate
- Gwendolyn Downs - retired
- India Hooks - Hooks Entertainment • Gasper River Retreat
- Karl Miller - WKU
- Osi Onyekwuluje - Attorney at Law
- Robert Rodarte - Housing Authority of Bowling Green
- Linda Rowland - The International Center
- Kelly Thompson, Jr. - Attorney at Law
The Mark Oval Black Juried Art Exhibition
The Exhibit was open to professional and emerging artist in all media suitable for hanging including but not limited to: painting, drawing, fiber art, photography and 2-dimensional sculpture. International artists and Internationally themed works were encouraged, but not mandatory.
The exhibit takes place September 1-30, 2002 at Spencer's Coffeehouse on Fountain Square.
Works for the exhibit were selected by majority vote of three jurors, John Warren Oakes, Landry Butler and Miranda Pederson. A reception and awards ceremony, open to the public will be held Friday September 20, 2002 from 6-8PM as the kickoff event to our festival. The reception is part of the Downtown Gallery Walk that night along with Boomerang, Capitol Arts Center, Lot 916 , Memphis Marsha's and The Pots Place..
Most works exhibited will be for sale. For collectors, convienence, work may be purchased at anytime during the exhibit onsite and picked up at the close of the show. In addition to supporting the local artist, a 20% of sales will be donated to the Bowling Green International Festival, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c) organization.
- John Warren Oakes says of the Mark Oval Black Juried Art Exhibition: "The International art festival juried exhibition presents a wide diversity of media and subject matter. All the images are dynAMic and relate to the contemporary trends in art.
John Warren Oakes is a professor of art at Western Kentucky University. He has exhibited in 332 exhbitions and had 32 one man shows. He has served as a juror for numerous exhibitions in the region.
- Landry Butler is a self-taught artist, born in Memphis in 1967. He creates highly conceptual snapshots of pop culture in the form of multi-layered visual and audio compositions that evoke comparisons to the work of David Carson, Yoko Ono, and John Cage. Inspired by mythology, science fiction, and chaos theory; Butler explores personal myths, their real-world counterparts, and the archetypes that inspire them. Landry Butler says regarding the Mark Oval Black Juried Arts Exhibition entries: "Exciting, vibrant and original art. A very cool event, worth the drive from Nashville. I loved last year's International Festival and AM excited to be involved this year. Diversity is good."
- With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photojournalism from Western Kentucky University, Miranda Pederson has been a staff photographer at the Daily News since June 2000 where she has received several Kentucky Press Association awards.
- Mark Oval Black served as the Executive Director of the Bowling Green International Festival from 1997-2000. During this time and throughout his life Mark served his community with diligence and dedication in many capacities for organizations such as: The Bowling Green City Commission, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Bowling Green/Warren County Jaycees and many others.
- Andee Rudloff - “I AM glad to be the Chairperson of the 2002 Mark Oval Black Juried Art Exhibition. I was a friend of Mark’s, and believe that he would have enjoyed the art show as an addition to the BG International Festival.
The art show is another way to open the doors to communication between Bowling Green natives and those in the international community new to the area. I hope the Bowling Green residents will come out to the reception at Spencer’s Coffee House on September 20th, 2002, to view the art, meet the talented artists and share in the community’s diversity.” - Andee Rudloff
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Faces of Kentucky at A Taste of Europe
The International Center presents Faces of Kentucky, an exhibit of photos by Tim Broekema. The Exhibit is located at Taste of Europe just off the square on State Street and features images of refugees and immigrants living in Bowling Green.
The works were commission by the International Center in Bowling Green. According to Executive Director Marty Deputy, they serve "to show the hues and colors of a variety of our friends. They are some wonderful photographs of people that have lived through uprooting, seen war and lost their homelands. With the children, some little ones were born here, but some older ones risked their lives to get here. The little ones don't realize what their parents and siblings have been through and the challenges they have faced. The glimpses of expression and shadows show their past memories, dealing with the present and looking forward to the future while adding to the cultural spice of our area."
- Tim Broekema began his career working part-time as a picture editor for the Louisville Courier-Journal and was part of the 1989 Pulitzer for staff coverage of a news event. In 1990 he began working full-time as a sports picture editor and page designer for the Providence (R.I.) Journal. In 1992 he took on a sports picture editor job for the Chicago Tribune and remained working that desk until 1997 when he was awarded the Knight Grant and took a one year sabatical and taught photojournalism at Western Kentucky University. In 1998 he returned to newspaper and became the director of photography for the KalAMazoo (MI) Gazette. In 2002 he completed his Master's in Communication from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich. and signed on as an assistant professor of photojournalism at Western Kentucky University.
Broekema's work has been published in newspaper's across the country including small and large magazines. He has placed in the international Photographer of the Year competiton five times winning sports portfolio shooting in 1994 and multiple page news story picture editing in 1998.
Merchandising: The festival will be raising money for next year's festival by selling a coupon card that will allow holders to recieve discounts at area restaurants. International restaurants in particular are represented. The festival is also producing a collection of recipes and information about the people and places from which they come.
The BG International Festival Book Fair
at Barnes and Noble September 22, 2002 A portion of all books sold at Barnes & Noble in Bowling Green on Sunday September 22, 2002 will be donated to the BG International Festival. For the donation to be given the purchaser must turn in a voucher. Vouchers will be available online soon, at the festival and by request at the check out counter at Barnes & Noble.
Roll Around The World was held Friday August 16, 2002 6-9PM at Greenwood Skate Center. The successful fundraiser for the festival will be repeated for 2003.
Contests:
- Poster Contest: In conjunction with the Bowling Green/Warren County Bar Association, a poster contest is open to students in Warren County. All entries will be displayed in the courthouse during September.
2002 Performances
Hooks Entertainment Rock Around The World Street Dance
- 6:00-10:00 Rock Around The World with DJs Ali & "Bump" and Hooks Entertainment. Our 2002 Street Dance features high energy dance favorites from around the globe and a dance contest with lighting and special effects to rival your favorite dance club including large screen projections of the audience and a lighted dance floor.
Budweiser/Insight Communications Stage
- 11:00-11:45 St. Joseph's Hispanic Dance Band - Salsa, Cumbia, Merengie.
- 12:00-1:00 Som Brasiliero - Sounds of Brazil.
- 1:20-2:25 The Jump Gypsies - Irish/Scottish music and dance.
- 2:40-4:10 Capetown - Sounds of South Africa.
- 4:30-6:00 Seed n Soil - Reggae.
Sumitumo/D93/WKCT Concert Stage
- 11:00-12:00 The Turner Family - Gospel.
- 12:15-1:15 Ann Gonzalez - Latin Jazz.
- 1:30-2:30 Lost River - Traditional Celtic & Folk.
- 2:45-4:15 Coqui - Traditional Peruvian & Original Songs
- 4:30-6:00 Arthur Hatfield & Buckcreek - Bluegrass.
Greenwood Skate/WUHU/WBVR Dance Stage
- 11-11:40 CAMbodian Fashion Show - Fashions of CAMbodia.
- 11:50-12:15 Au Shaolin's Arts Kung Fu Academy - Chinese Kung Fu and Lion Dancing, featuring individual and group students and Master Seng Au.
- 12:25-12:45 The Lotus Dancers - Arabic/Folkloric Dance.
- 12:55-1:35 Hispanic Folk Dancers - Hispanic Folk.
- 1:45-2:45 The Messianic Jewish Singers & Dancers from Congregation Beth Sar Shalom - Traditional Live Jewish Music & Dance.
- 3:00-3:30 Vietnamese Dancers - Traditional Vietnamese Dance.
- 3:40-4:10 Dance Arts - Traditional Southern Clogging.
- 4:20-5:30 Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance - Irish Step Dancing (Similar to Riverdance) & Irish Social Dance Workshops.
- 5:40-6:00 The Lotus Dancers - Arabic/Folkloric Dance.
International Center/WBGN Country Showcase
- 10:00 Laos
- 11:00 Vietnamese
- 12:00 El Salvador
- 1:00 Honduras
- 2:00 Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
- 3:00 Bosnia
- 4:00 Bosnia
- 4:30 Bosnia
- 5:00 El Salvador
WKU Modern Languages and Intercultural Study Theatre
In the State Street Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
A faculty member will be there to introduce film and lead a discussion/answer questions afterwards.
- 11:00 AM Danzon (Mexico), director Maria Novaro
- 2:00 PM No Man's Land (Bosnia Herzegovina), Director Danis Tanovic
In the Park Performances
- Ongoing David Owens - 19th Century hymns played on a Melodeon.
- Ongoing WKU Office of International Relations Cartoon Tent: story-book readings and cartoons in other languages along with some games.
2002 Vendors
- Willie Rascoe - Woodworking workshops for children, youth and adults. Featuring an exhibtion of the artist's work and hands on workshops using the artists' tools and materials where produce mini driftwood sculptures to take home. Ongoing, Free.
- Andee Rudloff's - Children's Mosaic Project. Children are decorate small foAM core tile with markers andthey are encorporated into a mural on panels created by local artist Andee Rudloff, resulting in a unified work by all. Ongoing, Free.
- Pioneer Annie - Cornhusk Dollmaking & Living History. Ongoing, Free.
- Regina A. Whitlow, African American - Handmade tote bags, purses, jewerly and jackets.
- Patricia's Crafts, Appalachian - Handmade jewelry and painting on different media.
- Luis Males - Silver jewelry
- Laverinty Safarov, Armenia - Cheese and candies.
Kathy Sheldon's Rec 138, England - Maypole
International Center's Food Court - Local refugee and immigrant families which work with the International Center showcase their family's traditional recipes.
BG/WC Jaycees' Oktoberfest Tent, Germany - Brauts and beer.
Kids on the Block - International puppet making. Free information on different types of puppetry including Bunraku. KOB performs in the Bunraku puppetry style which originated in Japan. Ongoing, Free.
The Amplifier, Mexico & Japan - Pinatas, sugar skulls, hagoita paddles, origAMy. Ongoing, Free.
Julie Drzewiecili - Face painting
Housing Authority - Coutry Display tables including: Mexican, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bosnia, Albania, Vietnamese, CAMbodian, and Laos.
Hooks Entertainment, US - Inflatable Games
The Bosnian Club, Bosnia and Herzeguvinia - cultural display & Bosnian club activities
Taib Golubovic, Bosnia - Barbequed Sheep
Coco Bongos, Cuba - Virgin tropical drinks in unique glasses.
Asian American Club, Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer - cuisine
Angela Kuprion, US - Portraiture demonstration study of Mr. Discussion on the elements of painting and display of the artists work. Ongoing, Free.
Suzanne Renfrow - Wood fired pottery
Sananikone Family, Laos- eggrolls
Cavca's, Bosnian - Cevapy
Los Hermanos, El Salvadorian, Mexican - Horchata, El Salvadorian TAMales, Mexican Taquitas
St. Mary Magdalene, Southern US - 9 time ChAMpionship winners of the Owensboro BBQ Festival.
INTO Edventures - Foreign exchange students display/information.
Congregation of Beth Sar Shalom, Jewish - Traditional "Sakkah" or booth for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (booths or Tabernacles). September 21 is the first day of "Sukkot".
Interfaith Council - Pictures of local faith diversity and a display of symbols from faiths.
Spirit of Hope, Lutheran, German, African - Global Lutheran Theme - starting in Germany to Africa to Bowling Green. Free balloons.
WKU Modern Languages and Intercultural Studies Dept., French, German, Spanish - Flags, artifacts and music. Writing names in French, German in Spanish.
WKU International Club - Bookmark making. Cultural Displays.
Peace Corp - Display/Information
WKU Office of International Relations - Cartoons from around the world. Storytelling. Ongoing, Free.
Girls Scouts - Norway children's crafts/games. Norwegian cookies or other food. To earn money for a trip to Switzerland. Poster with photos of the GS World Center in Switzerland that they plan to visit.
Carrissa Creek - Hand painted silk eye pillows filled with different herbs and flax. Also other neck rolls and herbal helpers.
Mark Griffin - A photography exhibit featuring his trip to Europe.
Stacey Irwin - A photography exhibit featuring her travels through Asia.
Taj Palace - Indian Cuisine
Au Shaolin's Arts & Kung Fu Academy - China, Display and demonstrations on traditional Chinese Kung Fu.
Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance - Ireland, Display of Irish culture. Irish Social Dancing workshops.
Bury The Hatchett Intertribal Council - Native American merchandise and dancing.
• Dignitary
Bowling Green City Government
Warren County Government
Insight Communications
Spencer’s Coffeehouse
Hooks Entertainment
Budweiser
• Ambassador
Greenwood Skate Center
Sumitumo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc.
D93
WKCT
WUHU 107.1
WBGN
WBVR
The Bowling Green International Center
The Amplifier
• Diplomat
Kentucky Info Web, Inc.
• Humanitarian
General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant
WNKY NBC 40
Pepsi
Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Delegate
Fairview Midtown Self Storage
American Toner
United Farmers Dairy Auction
Dr. Kenneth and Martha Deputy
Citizens First Bank
Bando Manufactoring of America, Inc.
Franklin Precision Industries, Inc.
Holley Performance Products, Inc.
Georgia Pacific
Travelodge
Gasper River Retreat
Bowling Green Tental Rental
Teresa Christmas
• Trustee
South Central Bank
Painting with Pizzaz
Western Kentucky Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley
Quality Personnel
• Friend
Browning Oil Company
United Farmers Dairy Auction
Firstar
Charles M. Moore Insurance
Houchens Foundation
Katie’s Cup of Tea
Bosanaka You and Me
Turner Industries
Rudloff & Rudloff
Weyehauser
• Special Thanks To
WKYU FM - Arts Beat/Music in the Morning
Cumberland Grille
Puerta Vallarta
News 4U
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