Beauty and the Beasts

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo is now accepting entries for its first art contest. With its fall foliage in full bloom, the zoo encourages artists of all ages and experience levels to bring their brushes and pastels for a walk on its wild side and the opportunity to capture a furry, feathered or fanged creature on canvas.

“The zoo is one of the few attractions that appeals to a multigenerational audience: kids, parents and grandparents,” explains Mary Woods, the zoo’s development director. “When a family visits the zoo together, everybody gets something different out the experience.” And, unique perspective is the hallmark of great art.

Furthermore, “Baton Rouge has such a vibrant arts community, and the animals offer such incredible inspiration,” Woods says. “[The contest] is a natural fit.”

The contest divisions include a category for children age 12 and below; a junior level for young artists age 13 to 18; a novice division for adult amateurs; and an advanced category for adults with experience or even professional skills.

While there is no entry fee, each artist is limited to a single submission. Original artwork must be no larger than 18-x-24 inches and drawn, painted or crafted entirely by hand. Suitable two-dimensional media include oil, acrylic, oil pastel, soft pastel, water media, dry media (such as soft pastel, pencil, colored pencil, ink, charcoal, etc.,) or hand-pulled prints. Digitally created or enhanced artwork, giclees and photography are ineligible for the competition.

Entries will be posted on the zoo’s Facebook page, so the public can vote for a favorite piece in each category. Zoo visitors will also have an opportunity to view the artwork in person vote for their favorite entries at the December 8th and 11th ZooLights.

First, second, third and honorable mention winners will be selected within each of the categories. A panel of judges will select a grand-prize winner from the winning entries. While pieces representing any aquatic or wildlife are eligible for the contest, artwork representing animals currently on exhibit at the Baton Rouge Zoo is favored to receive the grand-prize award. Contest winners will be notified by December 21, 2011.

Winning entries will be exhibited during ZooLights on the December 29th and 30th. Prizes will be awarded in each category.

Registration forms for the art contest are available at the zoo’s front entrance ticket area, gift shop, administration building and online at brzoo.org. Submissions can be delivered to the zoo, BREC’s Florida Boulevard office or Baton Rouge Parents Magazine by noon on November 23, 2011.

For more information, visit brzoo.org and facebook.com/brecsbrzoo.

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