'Live and Let Draw' James Bond Competition

A competition mixing 007 and drawing is being held in order to fill main gallery of the Mississippi Arts Center.

The Clarion Ledger reports that winning entries in the Greater Jackson Arts Council’s Live and Let Draw Competition: James Bond Invitational will go on display this August.

Juried entries will go on display in an exhibition at the Mississippi Arts Center and also be featured at the arts council’s annual Storytellers Ball (to be held 21 August–with the equally Bondian theme, ‘Shaken, Not Stirred’), kicking off the 2008-2009 arts season.

The top prize is $1,000 with additional prizes of $300, $200 as well as some honorable mentions for a total value of $2,100 in cash and gift certificates. The hope is to make this first-time contest an annual tradition.

In addition to the above awards, a $500 people’s choice award will be voted on and announced at the Storytellers Ball.

The deadline for entries is 30 June for two-dimensional works–paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography or more–in the spirit of the James Bond theme. Entries can have three-dimensional qualities, but must hang on the wall for display. Artists can submit photos, digital prints or digital files (no slides or original artwork); there’s a $10 entry fee per piece.

‘My thought was, what could we do in the gallery during that time? Being an artist myself, I thought, what a wonderful excuse to give back to the artists of Mississippi and have a competition,’ said Sylvia Hale Pooley, development and special events manager for the Greater Jackson Arts Council.

‘Since this building is now under the watchful eye of the Arts Council and we’re in the process of the master plan for the rehabilitation and transformation of the arts center of Mississippi into a community arts center, we definitely want to try to start showcasing the building,’ said Janet Scott, arts council executive director.

‘Our moniker is, “Be part of the story,” and … we try to incorporate everything we do to be a part of the cultural story in Jackson and Hinds County.’

The Live and Let Draw 007 exhibition will be on display from 4-30 August. An artists reception for the show will be open to the public from 2:00 to 4:00pm on 7 August. Awards will be presented then.

For further information on this James Bond-themed art competition, phone Sylvia Pooley at 601-960-1557. Entry forms may be downloaded at jacksonartscouncil.org.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest on 007-related events happening around the world.