Melt with you

Art Melt. It’s a phrase now common to the Baton Rouge vernacular. After five years, this year’s sixth annual multi-media art show is set to be the biggest. The show is expanding and taking full advantage of its downtown domain. Art Melt is also encouraging more community involvement. The Boys and Girls Club will participate this year, with the youth presenting their artwork on the second floor of Lyceum Dean, says Chris Brooks, Art Melt co-chair.

Culture Candy’s Uncommon Thread team and Of Moving Colors dance ensemble are working on a performance piece for the show, adding another artistic element beyond the canvas.

Rebekah Harvey, co-owner of Storyville Apparel, attends every year to exhibits her company’s latest T-shirts as an arts merchant. “It’s the mixture of art, music and people that makes Art Melt special,” Harvey says. “It’s a little bit of everything.” Local artist Jonathan Pellitteri has submitted works to Art Melt since 2005 and won a third place award in 2006. This year, he has two sculptures for consideration, “Sleep Tight Under The Microscope” and “Water Filter,” which features growing grass and water elements. “The show brings such a large range of artists together and a variety of works,” he says. “Art Melt doesn’t focus on one type of work.”

Dan Cameron, Ann Connelly and Brian Young will judge the varied entries this year. Cameron serves as visual arts director at the New Orleans Center for Contemporary Art and earlier this year launched the public art showcase Prospect.1. Connelly is an experienced local art dealer and gallerist. Finally, Young is the curator at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Md.

The winners of the show will be announced at the preview gala, Thursday, July 9, at the Manship Theatre. Guests can preview the artwork, listen in on how the judges made their decisions and enjoy some tunes courtesy of the Iguanas.

Art Melt is Friday, July 10, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Works from the artists will be exhibited in the Brunner Gallery at the Shaw Center for the Arts through July 20. ?artmelt.org