Bristol’s Art in Public Places presents its annual Artistic Excellence Exhibit.
“The Artistic Excellence Competition showcases the talents of student artists, a demographic that is vastly underserved in the region’s art community,” says Barbara Niemczak, committee member.
Participating students from high schools in Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol, Virginia, Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia are eligible to participate. The students must be enrolled in a class for high school art credit, and all work must be submitted by their art teachers. Each school may submit 14 pieces to the contest.
Art students comprised of freshmen and sophomores and another of juniors and seniors vie for cash prizes for Best in Show and first, second and third place awards. Honorable mentions do not receive a cash prize. The prizes are Best in Show, $250; First Place, $75; Second Place, $50; and Third Place, $25. All artwork is exhibited, not just the winners.
They compete in seven categories that range from three-dimensional sculpture to oil, acrylic, watercolor, black and white ink or pencil or charcoal, mixed media and colored pencils and pastels. Winning artists receive cash prizes.
“It is vitally important to show these young people that they and their art are important to the community. ArtEx gives them a rare outlet in which to express their creative point of view before a wide audience, inspiring and encouraging them. The quality of student artwork is very impressive, and their use of color last year was stunning” Niemczak says.
A reception for ArtEx 2020 is held at Bloom Café and Listening Room, Bristol, Tennessee, April 19 from 3-5 p.m.
