Trends for Nov. 18, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 | 9:21 a.m.

Picasso on a plate?

Cooking, cleaning, traveling ah, it's nearly Thanksgiving. Who could forget? Well, let's at least try.

We at Trends think a brief break from the holiday hubbub is in order. So consider this space a turkey-free zone.

Instead we're stuffing (Get it stuffing? Hey, we promised to ditch the bird, not the side dishes) this week's column with a heapin' helpin' of contests for the entering. The first offering, however, won't let your mind stray too far from the dinner table.

Dixie, makers of those pint-sized bathroom cups, among other paper products, is calling on the creative talents of professional and student artists, designers and illustrators for its first Art of the Plate design competition.

The canvas: one of Dixie's 9-inch white paper plates. The medium: anything you care to use. The purpose: to illustrate a "vision of the ultimate paper plate."

The best part: The designs may be mass produced on the company's product line, for use at future backyard barbecues and such. Because without a big puddle of baked beans oozing everywhere, it just isn't art.

Also, the company will select 100 original works to be displayed in May at the Museum of Contemporary Arts and Design in New York. One grand-prize winner will be awarded $10,000; eight first-place winners will take home $5,000 each.

Designs original art on plates won't be accepted, only color copies are due by Feb. 15, in care of the contest at 133 Peachtree NE, Atlanta, GA 30303-1847. Visit dixiecontest.com for a complete set of the lengthy rules and an entry form.

Sweet deal

Forget plates. Instead, grab one of Dixies bowls and plastic spoons for this next contest.

Wondering what to get the ice cream lover in your life this holiday season? How about bringing home John Harrison? This lucky son-of-a-gun has the dream job of taste tester for Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream. He also has developed dozens of flavors for the company, including Cookies N Cream.

Harrison is the grand prize of Dreyer's Taster Under the Tree contest. He'll host an ice cream-tasting party in the winner's kitchen for 20 of his or her friends, during which Harrison will share trivia, recipes and his personal "swirling and smacking" technique for tasting ice cream.

Here's the scoop: Entrants (ages 8 and older) should, in 300 words or less, describe their sweetest ice cream memory say, the first time you dove into a banana split, or how your beloved hid an engagement ring in a super-sized sundae. (Additional contest rules are at dreyers.com.)

Four winners will be chosen and notified by late December (in time to receive Christmas Eve deliveries of Dreyer's seasonal pumpkin, peppermint and eggnog ice creams). Harrison will visit each winner next year and also present them with certificates for a years supply of Dreyers ice cream.

Send essays by Dec. 10 to 5929 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618; or (if you're 18 years or older) e-mail them to tasterunderthetree@dreyers.com.

Real American heroes

Keeping with the giving spirit of the holiday season and that of toy soldier G.I. Joe (who knew?) toy maker Hasbro Inc. wants to give a hand to youngsters who continually give of themselves.

Parents, teachers anyone, really can nominate a child ages 5 to 12 for the G.I. Joe Real American Hero Search via a short essay (due Feb. 28), explaining a "heroic, courageous or unselfish deed or service" performed by the young person.

One winner from each state will be given a G.I. Joe Certificate of Commendation and a prize package, while five grand-prize winners will be honored at an awards ceremony during a two-day trip in May to the nation's capital. A $2,500 donation will also be made to each winners' favorite charity. To enter the contest, visit gijoe.com.