Jo Mueller, Spiva Executive Director and her husband Don Ayers hang a photograph in preparation for Spiva's opening of PhotoSpiva Friday, April 9.

An exhibit of juried entries from PhotoSpiva 2004, the national photography competition sponsored by Spiva Center for the Arts, opens to the public Saturday, April 10, and runs through Sunday, May 16.

The Center established the annual event in 1977. PhotoSpiva has become a very competitive 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.

This year 117 photographers from 25 states submitted 550 images, competing for $2,000 in awards. The juror, Therese Mulligan, Ph.D., is coordinator of the MFA Program in Imaging Arts - Photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She judged entries and presented a lecture at Spiva March 5.

Dr. Mulligan spoke about collecting photography, Mueller said. She didn't share any information about the photographs she chose, or which photographers would receive awards.

Mulligan selected 98 images by 66 artists for the exhibit. Thirty-one of the featured photographers reside in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas or Oklahoma.

Although the photographers have been notified of their acceptance to the exhibit, awards won't be announced until April 9 at a reception for photographers, their guests and Spiva members. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Friends of St. Avips will host the reception. Jazz guitarist John Dagley is slated to entertain.

Financial assistance for PhotoSpiva 2004 is provided by the Freeman R. Johnson Trust, Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. The John Wise Home assisted with juror's accommodations.

Spiva Center for the Arts is located at Third and Wall in downtown Joplin. Galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00. Donations are welcome; there is no charge for admission.


"It’s Elementary!" is on display upstairs in the Regional Focus Gallery.

For more information, please call 417-623-0183.

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

Jo Mueller, Director