VSU presents the Valdosta National 2003 art competition

Valdosta State University's Art Department invites the community to attend the opening reception of the Valdosta National 2003 competition on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6-7:30 p.m., in the Art Gallery (located in the Fine Arts Building). The exhibit continues through Feb. 16 and is open to the public free of charge.

The competition will feature a diverse collection of artworks including: paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, printmaking, collage, jewelry and mixed media. A total of 42 individual pieces of art were selected from 342 submissions.

Two local artists, Chris Valle and Katie Hutt, both of Valdosta, were among the 34 artists from Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina, New York, Missouri and Georgia, chosen to exhibit their work.

Judging this year's competition is Dr. Amy Vigilante Dickerson, director of the University Galleries at the University of Florida.

Monetary awards in the amount of $1,000 will be divided among "Best of Show" and first, second and third place winners.

The VSU Art Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and until 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, call the Art Department at 333-5835.