California and the Stanislaus National Forest have been asked to provide the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree (“the People’s Tree”) for 2011. This provides a very unique opportunity for California artists who are interested in creating art that represents this event. The selected artist’s rendition of the tree will be displayed in the Capitol Christmas Tree Gallery located at the Chief of the United States Forest Service’s Office in Washington, D.C. The artist will be flown to Washington, D.C. to do the official unveiling at the Chief’s Reception prior to the Tree Lighting ceremony in early December.

We are asking for your participation by providing your artistic talents and imagination depicting the 60-foot tree and showcasing all that is special about California. California Artists should have their finished pieces of art available to be judged by August 31, 2011. Images of the top 10 pieces of art will be made into note cards/holiday cards to be sold as a fundraiser for the project. Information about each artist will be printed on the back of the note cards, to provide added recognition to the ten artists.

To have the artwork reviewed by the selection committee, it must meet the following requirements:

• Any medium may be used: including but not limited to: acrylics, oil, watercolor, textile, metals, photography, stained glass, etc.

• Pieces should be no larger than 35 inches high & 30 inches wide

• Framed if appropriate, or otherwise designed to be easily hung on a wall.

• Deadline to have a digital photo of the artwork to us will be August 31, 2011

The theme of the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project is “California Shines”. You can learn more by visiting the project website at www.capitolchristmastree2011.org

Please e-mail or call Shandy Bearden at (209) 532-3671 ext. 232 or slbearden@fs.fed.us if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this exciting event!

Cordially,

Maria Benech, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2011 Coordinator

WHAT:

The 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree, sponsored by the US Forest Service, will be a gift from one of California’s National Forests. In honor of the occasion, the Stanislaus National Forest is hosting a statewide, juried art exhibition to select a submitted artwork that will represent the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree.

Traditionally, the official Capitol Christmas Tree artwork is presented to the Chief of the Forest Service and will hang in their office for one year. The artwork will ultimately be exhibited in “The Tree Gallery” adjacent to the Chief of the Forest Service’s office in the Yates Building, as part of the national permanent collection featuring previous Capitol Christmas Tree winners.

WHO:

Open to all California Residents, 18 years of age or older. Any art medium may be used. Finished artwork should be no larger than 35 inches high by 30 inches wide with framing optional. Artwork must be designed to hang on wall.

One time use: The winning artist must agree to convey to the U.S. Forest Service the right to reproduce the image in a one-time printing to be sold to fund this program.

WHEN:

Deadline to submit is August 31, 2011

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Submit high quality digital image of artwork: jpg format/4×6 inches minimum/300dpi

Image file name: LastName_FirstName_Title.jpg

Digital image and entry form may be emailed to: contact@capitolchristmastree2011.org

Subject heading should read: “Christmas Tree Art”

-or-

CD with image and entry form may be mailed to:

Christmas Tree Art

Stanislaus National Forest

19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370

Additional Information available at: www.capitolchristmastree2011.org/art.html

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Capitol-Christmas-Tree-2011/200060643373579

On Twitter: twitter.com/#!/CalShines