The South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado is now accepting entries for its upcoming annual photography competition "The Viewfinder."
Photographs taken with any type of camera and printed on any media are eligible. Entries must be received in the SAAC office by Feb. 3.
Judge Steven E. Ochs, professor of art at Southern Arkansas University, will award cash prizes totaling $600 for the exhibit, which will run from Feb. 5-26.
"'The Viewfinder' reveals the interests and imagination of shutterbugs throughout our community and beyond. In the last 10 years, with the wide penetration of digital cameras with video capabilities, the environment surrounding image-making has dramatically changed and it continues to evolve to create new standards and provide new opportunities for discovery," a news release said.
Ochs has 37 years of experience in education and chairs the Department of Art and Design at SAU. He is also the owner of Public Art Walks, which specializes in public art projects utilizing decorative concrete. Ochs teaches basic and advanced photography, ceramics, sculpture, 3-D design and serves on the Magnolia Arts Council. He has received awards in both teaching and research. In 2013, Ochs was awarded SAU's Honor Professor of the Year. Ochs has juried more than a dozen exhibitions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama and has acted as curator for more than twenty exhibitions, the release said.
Entries may undergo basic corrective editing in the darkroom or digitally, but not graphic manipulations. No work done under supervision or in a classroom environment will be accepted. Photographs must have been taken in the last five years and not previously shown at SAAC, the release said.
Each piece must be ready for display in the gallery with a sufficient hanging method. Entries are limited to two pieces per person with a nonrefundable entry fee of $10 each for SAAC members and $15 for the general public. One free entry will be allowed for new SAAC members.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the Best of Show, $300; First Place, $150; Second Place, $75; Third Place, $50; and Honorable Mention, $20.
An artist's reception is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21, from 5-6:30 p.m., with the awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. Call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visit http://www.saac-arts.org for more information.
Entertainment on 12/15/2019