‘Happiness is a Box of Cards’
The Mid-Mon Valley Cultural Trust is sponsoring its first Art Competition for artists in the Mon Valley area.
MMVCT kicked off the competition Monday on International Happiness Day, with June 17 the deadline to submit entries. The theme is “Happiness is a Box of Cards.”
The competition is open to local artists 8 and older who live in the Belle Vernon, Bentworth, Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Frazier, Ringgold, Monessen and Yough school districts.
Donna Vesely, trust chairwoman, wrote in a press release that “the Mon Valley area has a rich history, and this will bring an awareness to our communities to celebrate that history and offer artists an opportunity for their talent to be seen by a larger audience.”
“Although not everyone has the gift to create an artistic piece,” she continued, “everyone should have the opportunity to appreciate the work of those who do, and this will provide that experience for both.”
When the MMVCT was established in 1999, its purpose was to initiate, preserve and perpetuate theater, performing arts, history and culture of the Mid-Mon Valley.
“The Mid-Mon Valley Cultural Trust has been embroiled with controversy for too long, 15 years too long,” Vesely said.
Moving forward, MMVCT hopes the art competition is the first step in its mission to nurture and enhance the culture and arts in the Mid-Mon Valley.
Prizes will be given to the first- through third-place finishers in each age category, with a People’s Choice Award announced after voting is tallied at the end of the exhibit tour. Age categories are 8- to 11-year-olds; 12- to 14-year-olds; 15- to 19-year-olds; and 19- to 79-plus-year-olds.
All participants will have their art exhibited for two weeks in three separate locations. The opening of the first exhibit is planned for July 1 at SPHS in Charleroi, when winners in the four age categories will be announced. A second exhibit of entries will be held at Rostraver Library, and the last exhibit – with a chance to register votes – will be at Monessen Library.
First-place winners and the People’s Choice winner will receive $100, second-place winners will receive $50, and third-place winners will receive $25.
The first-place winners and the People’s Choice winner will be showcased and published in a box of cards that will be available to purchase after the competition ends. The box of cards will serve as an opportunity for local talent winners to have their piece published and provide an art history for the Mon Valley area.
Local schools are being asked to encourage young artists to enter their pieces, and local libraries will be depositories for the entries.
Advance registration is required on the website, www.mmvct.org, and entry forms are available at local libraries and online.
Entry submissions can be made at the following libraries:
• Belle Vernon Public Library – 724-929-6642;
• Bentleyville Public Library – 724-239-5122;
• Brownsville Public Library – 724-785-7272;
• California Public Library – 724-938-2907;
• Donora Public Library – 724-379-7940;
• John K. Tener Public Library – 724-483-8282;
• Monessen Public Library – 724-684-4750;
• Monongahela Public Library – 724-258-5409;
• Rostraver Public Library – 724-379-5511;
• Smithton Public Library – 724-872-0701.
Call your local library for operating hours.
Entries will be judged by a committee on concept, creativity, originality, interpretation and execution of the theme and overall design. Entries must:
• Create a picture of what makes you happy, to be used in a box of cards to make someone else happy.
• Be original, unpublished work, and must not include any third-party logos or copyrighted material.
• Two-dimensional.
• Be ready to display.
• Include a description.
Mixed media will be accepted, but copies, photos and computer-generated submissions will not be accepted.
Judges will be James B. Bove, a practicing artist and an associate professor at California University of Pennsylvania; A. Parker Burroughs, an artist and retired editor of the Observer-Reporter; Lenora Palonder, who has a bachelor of arts from Chatham College in Art and was the art curator for Gallatin, National City, Integra Bank and Westinghouse; and Susan Sparks, a professional artist and entrepreneur who returned to Southwestern Pennsylvania after several years on the West Coast.