2006 Monroe County Postcard Contest -- Call for Entries

2006 Monroe County Postcard Contest -- Call for Entries

Date of Record: February 28, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2006

For additional information, contact:
Valda Hillery, (812) 332-3563, [bloomingtonarts@yahoo.com|mailto:bloomingtonarts@yahoo.com]

Bloomington, IN -- The City of Bloomington Community Arts Commission is pleased to sponsor the ninth bi-annual Monroe County Postcard Contest. Artists of all ages living, working or attending school in Monroe County are invited to submit original designs inspired by life in Bloomington and Monroe County.

Two-dimensional artwork of all media is welcome, including drawings, paintings, graphic designs and photographs. The deadline for entries is Monday, May 1, 2006. Entry forms are available at the Public Works office in City Hall, in the Showers building, 401 N. Morton St. in Bloomington and at the John Waldron Arts Center.

Each artist is allowed to submit up to three designs, though only one work per artist will be eligible as one of the ten winning cards. Work must not be signed on the front and must have the entry form attached to the back. The designs must be the exact measurements specified on the entry flyer and must be matted as specified. Designs of the incorrect size or without proper matting will not be considered. Artists wishing to have artwork returned to them should provide a stamped, self-addressed 9" x 12" envelope with each individual entry. The works of the ten winners will become the property of the Bloomington Community Arts Commission and the City of Bloomington.

Ten winning entries will be selected by a jury to be printed and sold in the area. Proceeds from the sale of the cards are used to fund awards of the postcard competitions. Metropolitan Printing has once again generously donated the printing of the postcards and the entry flyers. The ten selected artists will each receive $200. First, second and third place winners will be selected from the ten finalists and receive additional awards of $250, $150 and $100, respectively.

Twenty honorable mentions will also be chosen and will be temporarily displayed along with the winning entries in City Hall.

For those interested in seeing winning postcards from previous years, they are permanently on exhibit in the McCloskey Conference Room of City Hall, in the Showers building, 401 N. Morton Street. Artists should keep in mind that a new jury is chosen each year. Criteria considered by the jury in making selections includes representation of our community, artistic merit, ease of reproduction, and sales potential.

Postcards from previous contests are available for purchase at area merchants, including Bloomingfoods East, Curry Buick, Elements, The Friends of Art Bookshop at the IU Art Museum, Greetings, Howard's Bookstore, IU Art Museum Gift Shop, John Waldron Arts Center Gift Shop, Monroe County Historical Society, Monroe County Visitors Center (both the North Walnut and Kirkwood locations), Pygmalians, Wandering Turtle Art Gallery and other locations.

For information about how to become a retail outlet for the Monroe County Postcard series, contact the city of Bloomington Public Works office at 349-3411. For information about the contest, contact Valda Hillery at 332-3563 or [bloomingtonarts@yahoo.com|mailto:bloomingtonarts@yahoo.com].

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