Submissions for MIGreatArtist contest sought through website

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Park West Gallery Chief Executive Officer Albert Scaglione launched the MIGreatArtistª contest last week for artists who live, work, or go to school in the Economic Growth Alliance region of Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer and St. Clair counties. Artists will be able to submit pictures of up to five original paintings, drawings or sketches to the MIGreatArtist website, MIGreatArtist.com now through Friday, July 20, for public voting. "The MIGreatArtist contest will encourage artists in the EGA region to showcase their creativity to art lovers throughout Michigan," said Patterson. "MIGreatArtist joins the many premier regional quality of life events in Oakland County." The MIGreatArtist winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize; five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery (value $500); a group exhibition at Park West Gallery with Award Ceremony & Reception, Sept. 4 - 28, 2012; a scholarship to attend FastTrac® NewVenture Oct. 2 - Dec. 4, 2012, offered through the Oakland County Business Center (value $700); will have their artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County's signature quality of life events TBD, printed by Park West Gallery (value $700); a solo exhibition at McLaren Hospital, Pontiac; and a solo exhibition at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield. Four runners-up will each receive a $250.00 cash prize; framing of five artworks included in the submission, Park West Gallery (value $500); a group exhibition at Park West Gallery with Award Ceremony & Reception, Sept. 4 - 28, 2012; a scholarship to attend one Business Basics workshop offered through the Oakland County Business Center (value not to exceed $50); a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; and a two-month solo exhibition in the Oakland County Galleria in Waterford. 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. The judges are Elliott W. Broom, vice president of museum operations at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Dominic Pangborn, founder of Pangborn Design Collection and former professor at the College of Creative Studies; Kristie Everett Zamora, arts, culture & film coordinator for Oakland County's Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs; Albert Scaglione, founder and CEO of Park West Gallery; and Don Tocco, an artist whose work includes award winning photography, paintings sold to high end art collectors, portrait sculptures of famous global leaders. 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. MIGreatArtist partners include Oakland County, Park West Gallery, Lawrence Technological University, McLaren Oakland, Economic Growth Alliance, AdvantageOakland.com, Medical Main Street, and Prosper® magazine. Published: Mon, Jul 2, 2012