Seven-year-old Madeline uses careful brush-strokes to create a beautiful rainbow. Madeline was one of three entries in the "under 15" category at ArtClash 2011 held at Do-All on South Lincoln Street. (MyBayCity Photo by O. J. Cunningham)

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Forty-Three Artists Compete at 2011 Do-All ArtClash

April 2, 2011
By: O. J. Cunningham

(Results of Judging Not Available at Publication Deadline)

The Third Annual ArtClash at Do-All on South Lincoln had 43 artists signed in when the competition began at 4:30pm on Saturday.

All proceeds from the sale of artwork is shared 50/50 between the Do-All Art Gallery (Do-Art) and the creating artist.

Doors opened at 6:00pm and the public was invited to come in and watch the final 90 minutes of creativity. Artists had 3 hours (total) to start with a blank slate and make a piece of art to be auctioned off to the highest bidder immediately after the awards ceremony.

According to Do-All CEO Chris Girard, up to 200 were expected to be on hand by the time the bidding started for the best art of the night.

The ArtClash is being held for the third year. "We had over 150 on hand for the auction last year, Girard said. I'm pretty confident that we'll be close to 200 this year.

Last year, the creation of Charles Robinson took first place in the judging and then was sold at auction for $400. The top 10 artists will receive cash prizes.

1st Place $500

2nd Place $350

3rd Place $200

4th -- 10th place each receive $50

Judges for the competition were: Saginaw Valley State University Art Professor Mike Mosher; Gallery Curator for Marshall-Frederick, Andrea Ondish; Delta College Art Professor Randall Crawford; Bay City Creative Commercial Photographer Avram Golden; and Delta College Art Instructor Peter Clouse.

THE JUDGES -- (L/R) Avram Golden of Golden Galleries, Delta Art Professor Randall Crawford, Andrea Ondish of Marshall Field Art Galleries, Delta College Art Instructor Peter Clouse and SVSU Art Professor Mike Mosher (MyBayCity Photo by O. J. Cunningham)

Do-Art Gallery Manager Linda Cassar pointed out that for the first time, a panel of judges will choose the best art of the day. "This is just a great event to celebrate art," Cassar said. Cassar also went on to explain that any medium of expression can be entered in the competition.

This year, in addition to the traditional painting entries in water-color or oil, a team from Sweet Boutique in Bay City was working on a "chocolate and sugar showpiece." There were also sketch artists, calligraphers and basket-weaving projects entered in the competition.

"I would call it a chocolate and sugar showpiece," said Steve Gerrity of Sweet Boutique when asked about their chocolate art project. Gerrity and Victoriana Card were teamed up and hard at work on their entry. "We enter a couple of competitions each year," Card explained as she continued to sculpt a block of chocolate. Card explained that Sweet Boutique and the Do-Art Gallery are neighbors on Washington Street in Downtown Bay City. "When we heard about the competition, we thought it would be fun," Card said. "So we entered and here we are."

Victoriana Card (Left) and Steve Gerrity of Sweet Boutique work their magic in chocolate. Card is using a sculpting tool to shape a block of chocolate while Gerrity cooks sugar that will be used to make multi-colored decorations for their project. (MyBayCity Photo by O. J. Cunningham)

2010 ArtClash Winner Charles Robinson works on this year's project.
(MyBayCity Photo by O. J. Cunningham)