By Kelley V. Phillips, Red-tail Communications & Outreach Manager—
MUNCIE, IN— Entry submissions are now being accepted for “Open Space: Art About the Land” an annual art competition and exhibition presented by Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, the Anderson Museum of Art (AMOA), and Red-tail Land Conservancy. Emerging and career Hoosier artists are encouraged to find creative inspiration that celebrates “open space” as it relates to the land and nature.
Since 2001, “Open Space” has attracted artists across Indiana to enter the competition.
Reimagined this year as an “art trail,” the exhibit will be opened simultaneously as two sister exhibits at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens and AMOA. Each venue will present more than 30 pieces of artwork for public viewing from November 4, 2023 to January 7, 2024. The partners encourage the public to visit both exhibits on the art trail by honoring admission to each other’s exhibits.
“AMOA is proud to partner with Minnetrista and Red-tail Land Conservancy on this exciting new take on a classic exhibit. It’s our pleasure to celebrate central Indiana’s landscapes. We hope the public will visit both exhibiting locations to explore the beauty of each,” said Mandee Mikulski, AMOA’s Director.
Developed by the two museums in partnership with Red-tail Land Conservancy, a portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Red-tail’s work to protect, preserve, and restore vital wildlife habitats and natural beauty in east central Indiana.
“For more than two decades, ‘Open Space’ has brought attention to important wildlife habitats in our region,” said Kelley V. Phillips, Red-tail’s Communications & Outreach Manager. “It is our hope that the myriad artwork inspires people to deepen their connection with nature.”
Artwork submissions will be juried by Walt Bistline, an Emeritus Professor of Art at Earlham College in Richmond where he taught photography from 2004 to 2021. His photographs have won numerous awards and are in over 350 public, corporate, and private collections.
Awards totaling $1,500, sponsored by 1816 Wealth Management Partners of Raymond James*, will be selected from the accepted works. The awards will be presented at a public reception on Friday, November 3 from 5pm-8pm at the Anderson Museum of Art.
To enter, artists must be 18 or older and are present or former residents of Indiana. Eligible artwork includes paintings, drawings, mixed media, prints, sculpture, fiber, metalwork, ceramics, and photography. Other eligibility requirements, entry process, and artwork drop-off are in the prospectus on the Event page of Minnetrista’s website www.minnetrista.net.
“Each year, it is such a pleasure to see the diversity of works submitted,” said Lindsey Horan, Minnetrista’s VP of Community Engagement. “We can’t wait to see what the talented artists of Indiana have for us this year.”
*Raymond James & Associates, Inc. – Member of New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is not affiliated with Red-tail Land Conservancy.
THE ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART is located in the historic Carnegie Library building in downtown Anderson. The Anderson Museum of Art is host to a variety of local, regional, and national art exhibitions. In keeping with our mission statement – “To engage the community in the visual arts” – we endeavor to be an integral part of the growing art community through a variety of means including collaborations with other arts organizations, youth and adult art classes, youth Summer Camps, public art receptions and participation in various downtown activities. The museum welcomes and invites our community to visit the exhibitions and share in this beautiful building during any of our open gallery hours or as a venue for community events, weddings, receptions, birthday parties, and much more. Also, with an in-house framing studio, we have a variety of framing and repair options for artwork and memorabilia. www.andersonart.org
MINNETRISTA MUSEUM & GARDENS is your year-round gathering place! Born out of the Ball family legacy, the home of the Ball jar, Minnetrista connects people, encourages engagement, and improves our community. There is always something new to discover at Minnetrista. From beautiful gardens, unique events, interactive exhibits, and engaging workshops, every adventure is unique and fun. For more information about Minnetrista, visit www.minnetrista.net.
RED-TAIL LAND CONSERVANCY is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that permanently protects and connects habitats where wildlife and people thrive. By preserving and restoring vital forests, prairies, and wetlands, Red-tail Land Conservancy plans for a future where the natural beauty of east central Indiana will exist for generations to come. www.fortheland.org
