Pete Coy, director of the Ski to Sea Race, wrote to tell me that rather than hiring a graphic artist to design artwork for the Ski to Sea poster, shirts and other memorabilia, he is requesting proposals from local artists to submit what they think would work for the design for the 2013 event.

Artists have until Sept. 14 to submit their work to Coy then he will post them on the Ski to Sea website for the community (and beyond) to vote on and comment.

Artists can retain the original design; Ski to Sea will buy the right to use the artwork on shirts and printed material for 2013.

Here are some specifics from Pete:

Whatcom Events and Ski to Sea is accepting admissions of art for use on the various Ski to Sea publications, such as the 2013 shirt, poster and other media publications. It will be the first time Ski to Sea has asked local artists to submit their ideas. About 6,000 Ski to Sea shirts are printed each year, and have become a symbol of Bellingham.

All styles and mediums - fine art, illustrations, photo illustrations, graphics, etc. - are welcome, but they must be suitable for high-quality reproduction to a variety of uses. Submissions must be original, completed artwork not previously used in any commercial publication.

Artwork will be selected based on popularity, appropriateness and suitability to Ski to Sea retail and promotional needs. Designs for the past three years are posted on the Ski to Sea website at skitosea.com.

Artwork that captures the essence of the Ski to Sea Race, the natural setting in which the race takes place, and the community will be given priority.

Digital submissions must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. Please email digital art, photos and/or scans (in jpg format) with a brief description to Ski2SeaRace@gmail.com.

BLUES FESTIVAL BENEFITS INMATE-TRANSITION GROUP

Deborah Hawley, a Whatcom County blues singer who I've known for years, is passionate about the benefit blues festival she's coordinating Saturday, Aug. 18, in the field next to the Islander Store on Lummi Island.

Deborah's two sons have both served prison sentences, and it is her hope that the organization she founded - Mothers Of Offenders & Others Rallying & Educating for Change (M.O.R.E) - to provide support services and education for inmates' transition to post-prison life will receive donations she can develop a speakers' program.

She is particularly focused on offenders who struggle with addiction or mental illness. She recently went back to graduate school to pursue her master's degree at Western Washington University, and that is her post-graduate focus. She says M.O.R.E.'s objective is "to present educational discussion groups, forums, panels, lectures or other similar programs regarding the criminal justice system and issues relating to incarceration trends and practices."

The festival, which runs from noon to 8 p.m. with have information booths by M.O.R.E. and by the National Coalition of Community-Based Correctional and Community Re-Entry Service Organizations, which is based in Blaine. Live music is provided by Cindy Minkler, the Dave McAdams Band, the Greg Pitsch Band, Rhapsody in Blue and Marlee Walker.

Details: 360-255-3434, moreforchange.org.

PRACTICAL SKILLS, BARTER ITEMS SOUGHT FOR SEPT. 22 FAIR

My friend Jamie Jedinak wants to spread the word about Whatcom County's inaugural annual Skill Sharing and Barter Faire to take place Sept. 22 at the Deming Logging Show Grounds.

She says organizers are looking for crafters, artists and others who want to share practical skills they have, whether it's a five-minute demo or an all-day class. For example, she says they will have someone who will teach how to splice a rope in a 15-minute class; someone who will give a two- hour class in making a rocket stove (a highly efficient way to do outdoor canning); and a woman who will teach how to grow beans and grains in Whatcom County.

Organizers are also looking for people interested in bartering or selling all kinds of crafts and goods, homemade or otherwise.

Example of skills that organizers would like to see presented include blacksmithing, fiber spinning, gardening, solar-oven building, goat milking, tool sharpening and hair-clip beading.

Details: whatcomskillsharefaire.org.

Reach MARGARET BIKMAN at margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2273.