Residents who think they have an eye for art will have a chance to get an eye full as online public voting begins today at noon for the 2017 MI Great Artist competition. Artists from Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair, Shiawassee and Wayne counties 231 of them entered the competition in hopes their work catches the eye of the voting public. The 231 will be whittled down to the top 20 semi-finalists and then the final five artists, who will share of a prize package worth more than $16,000.
"This is the most entries we've ever had more than double our previous high of 109 artists," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "I expect we could top 30,000 votes cast. There is so much talent in the region. I encourage everyone to go online and vote for their favorites."
Individuals may vote for their favorite artists at www.MIGreatArtist.com once every 24 hours. Voting ends at noon Aug. 28.
Patterson and Park West Gallery founder and CEO Albert Scaglione launched the contest in 2012 as a quality of life initiative to identify and support up-and-coming artists.
Artwork from the top 20 artists will be posted on the website Aug. 30. Judges will review the top 20 beginning Sept. 5 and will announce the top five Sept. 19. There will be an exhibition of the five semi-finalists at Park West in October. Patterson and Scaglione will announce the winner at an evening gallery reception Oct. 25.
The judges are Scaglione; Elliott W. Broom, vice president of museum operations at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Dominic Pangborn, founder of Pangborn Design Collection and a former professor at the College of Creative Studies; Don Tocco, an artist whose work includes award-winning photography, paintings and portrait sculptures of famous global leaders; and Kristie Everett Zamora, arts and culture coordinator for Oakland County's Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs.
The MI Great Artist winner receives $1,500; five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery; their artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County's signature quality of life events, printed by Park West Gallery; a solo exhibition at Park West Gallery; and a two-month solo exhibition at the Oakland County Galleria in the Executive Office Building in Waterford and business counseling services from the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center.
Four runners-up will each receive $375; framing by Park West Gallery and other services.
MI Great Artist partners include Oakland County, Park West Gallery, AdvantageOakland.com and Oakland County Prosper® magazine.
Published: Thu, Aug 17, 2017
