3536_Art Contest commemorates Don Bosco’s Bicentenary (GIA)

20150203_GIA

Art Contest commemorates Don Bosco’s Bicentenary (GIA)

By Mario Yamanouchi

Since 2 years, the Commission for Don Bosco’s Bicentenary celebrations, made up of members representing the different groups of the Salesian Family, have been meeting every month for planning and organizing various activities and events in order to make known the Salesian charism to as many people as possible and celebrate Don Bosco’s 200th birthday together.

One of these events held recently was the “Bicentenary of Don Bosco Memorial Art Contest”.

In order to involve as many people as possible in the preparation of the Bicentenary, it was designed as an open event in which anyone could participate. The contest was in 3 categories: Illustration, T-shirt design, and Songs. The more than 2,800 participants were of various ages, from elementary school children to adults, who submitted 1,700 works.

In order to create their works, the participants listened to Don Bosco’s life stories or read about him, to get in touch with his person. They expressed in their works of illustration, T-shirt design or song, what they felt in their hearts: “We love Don Bosco!”

Comments by the creator usually accompanied the works. They were about dreams that they wished to share with Don Bosco, what they wanted to do with Don Bosco if he was here. They express the love they have for Don Bosco:

    “I want to play with Don Bosco.”
    “I want to go pick flowers with Don Bosco. I wonder if Don Bosco would love sunflowers or hearts?”
    “I want to go out and walk around a lot with Don Bosco to help needy people.”
    “In this picture, Don Bosco is staying with me after class, helping me with my lessons.”
    “The shooting star in this picture expresses my wish that people will have dreams and hopes.”
    “I tried to express how Don Bosco is related also to the stars of the universe besides earth.”
    “I expressed my wish to celebrate Don Bosco’s bicentenary together with many people.”

The works are full of humor, many of them make you smile. We could see how the children feel love and affection for their friend Don Bosco.

Heartfelt gratitude is ours to be able to offer a beautiful bouquet of these works to Don Bosco, in collaboration with all the members of the Salesian Family.

For more about our province and DB200 celebrations: