Art Melt 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         

July 10, 2012                                                                                                                                         

Largest Louisiana Multi-Media Juried Art Show Opens July 14

Preview Party Tickets Available for Purchase

The ninth annual Forum 35 Art Melt, will take place in downtown Baton Rouge, July 14, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Shaw Center for the Performing Arts. The exclusive Art Melt Preview Party opens the show on July 13, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., in Manship Theatre’s Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre, Jones Walker Foyer, and Manship Theatre Gallery. The evening features the music of Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Neighborhood Threat and Of Moving Colors, and a chance to meet this year’s jurors and artists and find out the winners. Tickets are available for purchase forum35.org, with special rates for Forum 35 members and include a Louisiana-inspired menu from Bravo.

Art Melt has grown to become the largest multi-media, juried art exhibit in the state of Louisiana. This free event showcases artistic talent from across the state and is considered the premier cultural event of the southeast Louisiana summer season. The art competition will consist of a blind judging with prizes ranging from $2,000 to $500. The show accepts artwork from a variety of artistic mediums.  The jurors for this year include, Chief Curator of Contemporary Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ,Franklin Sirmans; Curator of Modern Contemporary Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, Ron Platt and LSU Professor of Art and noted photographer Thomas Neff.

In addition to the juried art show, the event will include appearances by local and regional musicians and performers such as Twin Killers and The Hitchhiker, an abundance of food and drink from local restaurants and food trucks, and an arts marketplace featuring an assortment of artisan creations for sale.

A special panel entitled, State of the Arts, will explore the cultural climate in the state and compare our strengths/weaknesses to other states; How to succeed as a fine artist in Louisiana and locate funding; open discussion on the arts in the state. Panelists include Jason Andreasen, Baton Rouge Gallery; Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, Executive Director, LSU MOA ; Kelly Pepper, Community Development and Outreach at the Louisiana Department of Administration; David Humphreys, photographer; Gerri Hobdy, Louisiana State Arts Council Representative , Louisiana Partnership for the Arts; David Contreras, MFA Candidate Painting & Drawing, Louisiana State University.

The Forum 35 Art Melt Kid Show will open on July 14 at 5pm in the Shaw Center for the Arts in the Jones Walker Foyer along the Lafayette side entrance and will stay up for 2 weeks. The Community School for the Arts coordinated the city wide submission from kids in the community on their thoughts of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Age range of the little artists is 3-14 years old.  Winners of the Kids Show competition are selected by the Arts Council.

Art Melt 2012 would not be possible without the generous support of its community sponsors which include Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Charles Lamar Family Foundation as administered through the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, The Boo Grigsby Foundation, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Launch Media, Jones Walker, Tipton Associates, Whole Foods Market, Louisiana Lottery, ThirtyNorth Investments, Louisiana Culinary Institute, American Printing Center, Catalyst Event Solutions, Enso Payment Solutions, Tipitina’s Foundation, Mark Bienvenu Photography, WAFB, Shaw Center for the Arts, Manship Theater, Tsunami, Mockler Beverage, Country Roads Magazine, DIG Magazine, Mac Consulting Group  and 225 Magazine.

To learn more about the Art Melt 2012, see the full list of entertainers and performers, or purchase preview party tickets, please visit www.artmelt.org.

"Like” Forum35 and Art Melt on Facebook and follow @ArtMelt and @Forum35 on Twitter for updates.

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About Forum 35

Founded in August 1993 to inspire young professionals to become involved with philanthropic organizations and activities, Forum 35 is a non-profit community organization of engaged young men and women dedicated to improving and shaping Baton Rouge. The organization was designed to provide leadership development opportunities for the next generation of Baton Rouge leaders. In addition to the Art Melt, Forum 35 is involved in a variety of initiatives supporting cultural diversity, community service, public education and social development. For more information about Forum 35, visit www.forum35.org or like Forum 35 on Facebook.