First Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Presented by Roosevelt island Residents Association (RIRA) on April 30 - Celebration of Hope to Raise Funds for Japanese Earthquake Victims & a Photo Contest Too!

Image from Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA)

Received the following message from the Roosevelt Island Residents Association:

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) will be hosting our First Annual Cherry Blossom Festival which will take place Saturday, April 30, from 1-3 p.m. Participating with RIRA, will be Roosevelt Island Operating Association (RIOC) and the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association Gallery (RIVAA).

Events will unfold in the area across from the F-train station, down the ramp and at our “pier”.

 Image of Subway Pier

The tea ceremony will take place, several times during the 1-3 p.m. period at the “cul-de-sac” next to the Meditation Steps.

Image of Meditation Steps

Festival attendance is FREE TO ALL and there will numerous things for both adults and children to enjoy. For directions to Roosevelt Island please go to our website: riraonline.

On this occasion we have joined with our Japanese neighbors and their organization, the Japanese Association of Roosevelt Island, to support their fundraising efforts. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Japan Society designated charities, supporting the Japanese relief effort to help those suffering from the March 11 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear energy plant disruption. Only cash, no checks or credit cards, can be accepted at this time.

RIRA has arranged to present, on behalf of the New York City Council, two Proclamations of support to Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki, Consul General of Japan in New York and Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America. These proclamations are generously provided by our City Councilwoman, Jessica Lappin. Additionally, a grove of cherry trees, just across and north of the subway station, will be dedicated by RIRA and RIOC, with a plaque offering our solidarity with the Japanese people. RIOC has generously supported this effort.

 Image from RIRA

RIRA’s Social, Cultural & Education Committee Chairperson, Lynne Shinozaki and her committee, have been working with the Japanese Association of Roosevelt Island to include traditional Japanese musical performances from several groups. Other events will include teaching visitors the art of origami, with the goal being the folding of a one thousand cranes, a tradition in the Japanese culture for special events. The cranes will later be displayed in P.S. 217 for the school children to enjoy. Included in these events will be a traditional tea ceremony, being repeated several times throughout the two hour program. There will also be children from the Roosevelt Island Youth Program demonstrating their special Karate moves.

How can a festival be a festival without food? Well, rest assured there will be assorted sushi rolls provided by Fuji East, sake (maybe a tasting to compare), and a beer tasting being offered by River Walk Bar & Grill. All proceeds from the food and drink sales will go to the fundraising effort.

If you find the cherry blossoms as beautiful as we do, you may want to register at our reception table for the Photography Contest and include some artful photos of these trees in blossom. Our Gallery RIVAA’s President Tad Sudol and other members will preside over the contest. The registration tent will be located on the grassy area between the Tram and Visitors Kiosk. To enter, you must register on April 30. Island youth and seniors may register for the contest, in advance, for free. Off-Islanders will pay $5 to register and participate. Be sure to keep your registration form for the rules for entering your work. Again, all proceeds will go to the fundraising effort. You can go to this website to see contest details and print out in advance, the registration form.

Following the planned program there will be an auction at the RIVAA Gallery on Main Street starting at 4:00 p.m., with previews of the artwork to start at 3:30 p.m.

Please tweet, email and call, the old fashioned way, to invite your friends to come out and join us, and support the Japanese community and our neighbors on Roosevelt Island.

RIRA thanks, in advance, all the donors to this event and the many volunteers who have given so generously of their time and heeded those calls to extra duty to ensure our success! We look forward to seeing our neighbors and their friends at what promises to be a fun, educational, and tasty event!

See you April 30!

More information on the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami as well as efforts by the Roosevelt Island community to help out from this previous post. and some Roosevelt Island Cherry Trees too.



Here's more information on the photography contest.

The Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association

527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044 212-380 0630

Cherry Blossom Photography Contest 2011 Rules and Application Form

Theme: any photos having to do with the Cherry Blossom Festival, photos MUST be taken on April 30th, 2011 (rain date is May 1st, 2011)

Size: 8x10 min. - 16x20 max.

Entry Fee: $5 is non-refundable

Medium: B&W and/or color photographic prints only. No slides, jpgs, tiffs, no cd’s. Or any other digital submission will be reviewed.

# of entries per person: each entry can submit up to three (3) different prints

Eligibility: this contest is open to all except GALLERY RIVAA members and their immediate families

Delivery of submission and deadline: all prints must be delivered by May 14, 2011 to the address listed below. Late entries will not be reviewed. Winners will be announced by May 20th.

Drop off: GALLERY RIVAA 527 Main Street New York, NY 10044 W 6-9, F 6-9 S/S 11-5
or Mail to: GALLERY RIVAA c/o Selwin Fund 531 Main Street #322 New York, NY 10044

Jury Composition: The jury is comprised of (5) five members of GALLERY RIVAA. Esther Cohen, Selwyn Fund, Toshiko Kitano Groner, Beatrice Popoiu, Tad Sudol

Prizes: 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, (3) Honorable Mentions

Each entry must accompany this completed and signed application form, incomplete submissions will not be considered. At the back of each photograph the name of the applicant must be clearly written. Please print clearly; we will not be responsible for illegible entry forms that will not be considered. All entry photographs are non-returnable. All winning photos will be announced in the WIRE Main Street and will be displayed in an upcoming group show at GALLERY RIVAA. Additional prizes to be announced by RIRA at day of festival. All proceeds from entry fees to be donated to Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Please also list your registration number on the back of the photograph.
Name __________________________________________________________________________ Adress__________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number___________________________________________________________________ Email____________________________________________________________________________ # of prints submitted_______________________________________________________________ I agree to the above and to enter the Cherry Blossom Photograpy Festival 2011. Please sign and date below. Signature___________________________________________Date____________________________
If under 18, please have parent or guardian sign this form.
GALLERY RIVAA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its programs or activities.

Click here to print out Application Form

UPDATE 4/25 - More info on the event from RIRA:

RIRA thanks, in advance, all the donors to this event:  Fujifilm, ITO EN, Roosevelt Landings, RY Management, The Related Management Companies and the Riverwalk Landing Board of Managers, Nonno's Focacceria, The Child School/ Legacy High School, The Roosevelt Island Youth Center, Togei Kyoshitsu of NY, Carol Labozzetta, Tenri Gagaku Music Society of New York, Kumiko Martin, and Masayo Ishigure  "Miyabi”.  We also thank the many volunteers who have given so generously of their time and heeded those calls to extra duty to ensure our success! We look forward to seeing our neighbors and their friends at what promises to be a fun, educational, and tasty event!

UPDATE 4/28 - From RIRA:

An additional donation has been received by RIRA’s SC&E Committee of fifty Obis, hand sewn by Island resident, Flo Kerr. They will be worn by volunteers who will be directing visitors to the events areas.