Artists Invited to Compete in Galveston Art League’s Spring Contest

ATTENTION, ALL ARTISTS: The Galveston Art League will soon hold its Spring 2019 Juried Competition, which is open to everyone over the age of 15. The Art League has three of these competitions each year, and accomplished artist and instructor Shirley Moore Leago of Houston will judge the spring contest.
    Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, April 29, artists may drop off up to three entries — paintings, photography, mixed media, and 3-D pieces such as sculpture, wood carvings, and pottery — for the contest at the Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston. (Early drop-off on Sunday, April 28, is by appointment only and can be arranged by contacting exhibition director Sharon Jones at [email protected] or 409-682-3515.)
    Entry fees are $20 per artwork for nonmembers. Galveston Art League members pay $15 each for their first two entries and $5 for a third entry. For full contest rules, please visit www.GalvestonArtLeague.com and download the prospectus from the black sidebar on the homepage.
    An exhibit of all works accepted into the show, which is typically well over 100 pieces of art, will begin Thursday, May 2. From 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, awards will be presented during an opening reception for the show. The Best of Show winner will receive $300; first-place winners, $100; second-place, $50.
Leago — whose website is www.ShirelyMooreLeago.com — will judge the entries on Tuesday, April 30. She frequently judges art competitions and has her own work hanging in public and private galleries around the country. She also has been featured in many publications. A professional artist, Leago teaches at Texas Art Supply near Baybrook Mall in Friendswood.
“I paint to show the beautiful side of life… I work in oils for the galleries, but paint and teach in many media,” she says. “Basically I teach theory, and I believe it is not about the media but what you do with it.” She paints wildlife and animals of the western United States and is drawn to animals’ human-like qualities, she says.
    Leago will select the Best of Show winner plus one first-place winner and one second-place winner and honorable mentions in each category that has six or more accepted entries. Categories are works on canvas or panel, works on paper, photography, mixed media wall-hung art, and 3-D. After judging is completed, artists whose works are not accepted into the show will be notified, and they may come to the gallery from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, to pick up their entries.
    The Galveston Art League, a nonprofit organization founded in 1914, has no paid staff. Volunteers carry out its mission of promoting visual arts and art education by holding juried competitions; by exhibiting the works of regional artists in its exhibits, which change monthly; and by hosting low-cost workshops (see the current schedule at www.GalvestonArtLeague.com ― click on the “Workshops” tab).
    The Art League is supported by contributions, an annual fall gala, and membership fees, which start at $35 per year (find out more at www.GalvestonArtLeague.com — click on “Join”).
    For more information about the Art League, please visit the website. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 409-938-1671.
(written and submitted by Mary Vinnedge)

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