"Swimming Towards the Light" (detail) Cole Thompson

PhotoSpiva 2008, the national photography competition sponsored by Spiva Center for the Arts, opens in the Center’s Main Gallery on Saturday, April 19 and runs through Sunday, June 1. Financial assistance for PhotoSpiva 2008 is provided by the Freeman R. Johnson Trust, Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Spiva officials established the annual competition in 1977. “PhotoSpiva has become a prestigious national event for both amateurs and professionals,” said Jo Mueller, Spiva's executive director. “It is now the oldest, continuously-running photography competition in the country, and visitors will see everything from “single source” film-based entries to high tech, complex digital renderings.”

Rod Slemmons, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago, juried the 2008 competition. Slemmons selected images for the exhibit and will present a lecture at MSSU Saturday, April 19.

This year 116 photographers from 28 states submitted 578 images, competing for $2,000 in awards. Slemmons selected 78 images by 34 artists for the exhibit. Fifteen of the featured photographers reside in Missouri, Kansas, or Arkansas.

Although the photographers have been notified of their acceptance to the exhibit, awards won’t be announced until Friday, April 18 during the opening reception for PhotoSpiva 2008 artists, their guests, and Spiva members.

A second exhibit will open the same evening in Spiva’s Regional Gallery. Sponsored by Jeff Layman of The Layman Group at Morgan Stanley, Earthen Alchemy will feature the work by four regional ceramic artists. The exhibit features works by Jennifer and Nathan Falter (Springfield Pottery, Springfield, Mo.), Frank Pishkur (professor of art at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin), and W. Mitch Yung (Mitch Yung Ceramic Design, Hollister, Mo.). Earthen Alchemy runs through June 6.

Spiva Center for the Arts is located at Third and Wall in downtown Joplin. The galleries and gift shop are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00. Admission to the Main Gallery is by voluntary contribution.

George A. Spiva Center for the Arts
222 W. 3rd Street
Joplin, Mo 64801
Tel: 417-623-0183
Fax: 417-623-3805
www.spivaarts.org