Time running out to enter regional art contest

A week remains for artists who live, work, or go to school in the Economic Growth Alliance region to submit their paintings, sketches, or drawings to the MIGreatArtist competition. Artists in Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties have until Friday, July 20, to submit up to five original works to MIGreatArtist.com. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Park West Gallery Founder/CEO Albert Scaglione launched the contest at the Southfield gallery June 27 as another premier quality of life event for the region. "We are pleased with the response so far; there are dozens of entries," Patterson said. "But we want to make a big push in the final week for other artists to submit their work." Artists must be at least 18-years-old. Entrants who have created 2-D works of art will be able to upload up to five images and descriptions of their work for public voting. From the top 20 artists, a five-member jury of arts professionals will select five semi-finalists. The winner then will be determined by a combination of jury score and public vote. Public voting online will open July 25 through Aug. 17. The top 20 artists will be posted at MIGreatArtist.com on Aug. 18. Beginning that day, the judges will review public voting results and narrow submissions down to the five semi-finalists who will be announced on Aug. 24. The semi-finalists will be on display at Park West Gallery Sept. 4-28. The winner will be announced Sept. 14 at an awards ceremony at Park West Gallery. MIGreatArtist is open to all original art work submitted by the original creator that is 2-D, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink, pastel, and collage, among others. Photography and digital artworks are excluded from the competition. Published: Fri, Jul 13, 2012