Serious Artists Compete for Serious Prizes in MiGreatArtist Search

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Artists, get your canvas and palette ready.

MiGreatArtist.com is accepting entries from eight Michigan counties for an online art competition beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday until Oct. 9. More than $16,000 in cash and prizes are available to the winners.

he contest is open to artists who are 18 years of age who also live, work or go to school in one of the following counties: Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Shiawassee and St. Clair.

“There is a surprisingly deep well of talent here in the region,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who announced the contest, said in a statement.

“This is a celebration of art and the artists whose work adds so much to our quality of life,” Patterson said. “We encourage those talented individuals to join us as we begin the search for the next MI Great Artist winner.”

Patterson and Park West Gallery founder and CEO Albert Scaglione launched the contest in 2012 as a quality-of-life initiative to identify and support up-and-coming artists. Patterson said the cash awards have grown to a total of $3,000, with additional prizes bringing the total to more than $16,000 in cash and prizes.

The competition “provides a unique opportunity to expose artists to an unprecedented audience,” Scaglione said. “I and the other judges are looking forward to reviewing the work and discovering more extraordinary Michigan artistic talent.”

Contestants may submit up to five original works of art online at MIGreatArtist.com for a public vote to determine the top 20 artists. The judges will choose the five finalists and winner. Complete rules about what art works and artists qualify for submission are on the website.

The MI Great Artist winner will receive:

• A $1,500 cash prize;
• Five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery:
• A group exhibition at Park West Gallery in Southfield from Dec. 1 – Jan. 8, 2016, with an award ceremony and reception;
• A scholarship to attend three Business Basics workshops at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center;
• A one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative;
• Their artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County’s signature quality of life events, printed by Park West Gallery;
• A solo exhibition at Park West Gallery;
• A two-month solo exhibition at the Oakland County Galleria in the Executive Office Building in Waterford.

Four runners-up will each receive”

• A $375 cash prize;
• Framing by Park West Gallery of five artworks included in their submissions;
• A group exhibition at Park West Gallery Dec. 1 – Jan. 8, 2016, with award ceremony and reception;
• A scholarship to attend one Business Basics workshop at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center;
• A one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative;
• A two-month solo exhibition in the Oakland County Galleria.

Public voting will take place at MIGreatArtist.com from Oct. 21-30. The top 20 artists will be posted on the website Nov. 2. Judges will review the top 20 beginning Nov. 4. They will announce the top five on Nov. 13.

There will be an exhibition of the five semi-finalists at Park West from Dec. 1 – Jan. 8, 2016. Patterson and Scaglione will announce the winner at an evening gallery reception on Dec. 8.

The MI Great Artist partners include Oakland County, Park West Gallery, AdvantageOakland.com and Oakland County Prosper magazine.

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Photo by Joe Tamel Photography/Flickr