We have an opportunity to show that art can make a difference.
For each of the last 25 years we have, for a weekend in September, shared the music, poetry, visual arts, and crafts of both local and national artists. They have inspired us, entertained us, and throughout the weekend, allowed us to lose ourselves in awe of their talents. For many it is a weekend of art therapy.
Each year the celebration has grown, both in size and stature. This has been largely due to the contributions of the Colorscape leadership team as well as the volunteers who have believed in the mission calling us to bring art to our community and celebrate the artists who create it.
This year we are inviting our Chenango County high school students to participate in an art project that celebrates their talents, and allows this next generation of leaders to share their voices and make a difference for all of us.
The challenge is a special one that we’ve never done before, but we think area students are ready.
They know–and we know–that there are myriad challenges in the world today, from climate change to poverty, from conflict to drug abuse, from lack of personal contact to over-commercialism. These are just a few of the issues that confront us daily. Making sense of any of these can be overwhelming, leaving us with a sense of malaise, cynicism, or even worse…panic. Art, we also know, can speak to so many of these issues, even while it invites us to stop, smell the roses, and recognize the incredible beauty that surrounds us daily if we have eyes to see.
This is why we hope you, students, will accept our invitation to use your art to inspire us, make us think and reflect, or engage us in a positive discussion of the issues we face in the world today. Your art could be about social, political, environmental, or community-based issues, or simply about honoring love and beauty.
Are you ready?
Heres the challenge:
Design an original two-dimensional work using any media that is 12 inches in height and 25 inches in length (landscape orientation) that represents the theme: “Art Can Change the World.” The selected work or works will be reproduced on a billboard on Route 12, north of Norwich.
Who can apply?
Any high school student currently residing in any school district in Chenango County, including public, private, or homeschooled (age equivalent).
When is the deadline for submissions?
All work must be delivered to Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival offices by 5 PM on Friday, April 26, 2019. No work will be accepted after this deadline. Call Board President Melissa deCordova at 607-226-0232 to make arrangements for pick-up or delivery prior to the deadline.
Participants grant Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival, Inc. and Golden Artist Colors, Inc. the right to reproduce entered works solely for the purpose of publicizing the program. Each participant is responsible for picking up the artwork by May 24, 2019 or the work will become the property of Colorscape Chenango.
All submitted work will be reviewed by an experienced visual arts panel. Five selections will be submitted to the Colorscape Board of Directors and one will be chosen to be enlarged into a 12 foot by 25 foot billboard to be installed on Route 12 in Norwich, NY for display from July 2019 through October 2019. All five finalists will be receive $250 gift certificates for art supplies from Golden Artist Colors, New Berlin, NY.
All work submitted must be of your own design and execution. Plagiarized works will be disqualified. Colorscape Chenango reserves the right to edit the work chosen for billboard display if required to meet installation specifications. to insure its visual message can be interpreted in the display context and; to add information to the work, such as the artist’s name, school name, and the logo for “Colorscape Chenango celebrating 25 years” and; the Golden Artist Colors logo of support. Colorscape Chenango will provide the added design support for the awarded work.
The downloadable application form: Billboard Challenge permission form