Monica Crowe, Reporter
07-28-2008
Visual artists in Lincoln Parish now have the exciting and unique opportunity to spread what might be a little known fact— that this area with all of its cultural programs fosters and produces truly talented individuals; that there is a thriving art scene here, regardless of a satisfactory level of public patronage. The creative environment is alive due to the artists, teachers and organizations who so readily share their work, and they deserve credit for what they do.
By entering New Orleans’ juried second annual Gulf South Regional Contemporary Art Exhibition, artists of Lincoln Parish who work in two-dimensional and three-dimensional media will have a shot at having their work displayed, which if exhibited will stand to represent the region or potentially put Ruston squarely on the radar of collective art culture.
Accepted work will be displayed in Bridge for Contemporary Art, otherwise known as BECA gallery, which is nestled fashionably in the Crescent City’s arts district.
Entry is open to artists throughout Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The select collection will be displayed from Jan. 3-Feb. 28, 2009, which coincides with the much anticipated revitalization effort, Prospect 1 (Nov. 1-Jan. 18, 2009) — a cultural extravaganza that is meant to bring tourists en masse to visit New Orleans.
The biennial exhibition that includes participation from galleries and historic buildings of the French Quarter, Warehouse and Bywater Districts, as well as the Marigny and the Treme, is designed to reinstate the public perception of the city once again as a cultural hub where the arts take center stage. The buzz surrounding the event is that Prospect 1 is poised to be a four-corners tourist attraction on the scale of Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
Prospect 1 is said to be the largest international display of contemporary art ever to be unveiled in the United States. Imagine Ruston natives’ artwork being shown among the works of the 80-plus national and international artists who are scheduled to exhibit.
High foot traffic through the BECA gallery is all but guaranteed, as it is located just across the street from the Contemporary Arts Center and within walking distance of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, both of which are main hubs and destinations of the biennial.
Those who wish to enter their work for consideration have until Nov. 10 to slide their work under the noses of the judges.
E-mail and CD submissions will be accepted. Competition is expected to be stiff, which should not limit but bolster hopeful artists’ energy in producing and submitting the best work they have to offer, and that includes high quality photos and correspondence.
The opening at BECA is a rare opportunity for Ruston’s emerging artists to gain national
exposure, which may in turn lead to other open doors. An event like this can’t be missed, so I’ll count myself not only among the entrants but also as a supporter of the arts and of New Orleans’ recovery.
For artwork entry information, visit www.becagallery.com or call 504-566-8999. Good luck to all who enter.
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