Something Different
This week, instead of my usual column, I wanted to present something different in the way of a notice.
Something crossed my desk the other day and it struck a familiar chord in my childhood memory.
You see, when I was in the sixth grade I failed art. That’s because when I used my crayons for coloring pictures, I would not do it in a conventional way. Instead I used my imagination and colored the pictures in the most abstract way possible.
My teacher saw this as me not conforming, or at the very least I couldn’t take instruction. Although later in life, I became a pretty good artist (if I do say so myself), I always tell people that I failed art because I couldn’t color.
Well, Toyota Hawaii aka Servco Auto, is holding a contest for all Hawaii student artists. So if you’re reading this, pass it on to your kids, grandkids or even your great-grandkids.
Hawaii student artists ages 15 and under are encouraged to compete in Toyota’s sixth annual Dream Car Art Contest by submitting handdrawn entries based on the theme “Your Dream Car” by Jan. 31.
Entry forms can be found at toyotahawaii.com, as well as at any Toyota Hawaii dealer.
Entries can be dropped off at any Toyota dealer in the state or mailed to P.O. Box 2788, Honolulu, HI 96803-2788.
In February, a judging panel will choose 15 finalists to submit to the international competition. These 15 finalists will each receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. If any of the Hawaii entries are chosen as finalists in the world competition, those students will receive an allexpenses-paid trip to Japan for the final awards judging in August 2012 and a chance to meet Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda and executive vice president Yukitashi Funo of Toyota in Toyoda City, Aichi prefecture.
“The main criteria that I determined in my mind for selecting the fifth annual Dream Car Contest Akira Toriyama Award was ‘the dream cars that only children can imagine and draw,'” said Akira Toriyama, Toyota Dream Car Art Contest judge for the final competition. “Needless to say, goodquality art and eco-consciousness are wonderful aspects. However, more importantly, I do want them to have their own fantasy world in their childhood. I believe that it doesn’t matter, even if the fantasy world seems to be small or useless, or that no one else can understand the dream. Putting their own fantasies into the cars, and completely enjoying drawing the picture, that’s the most wonderful thing ever!”
This is my kind of contest! So, kids, have fun and let’s put Hawaii on the Toyota Dream Car map. Aloha!
