“Lutheran Church” Steve Stenzel, St. Paul, MN

PhotoSpiva 2005, the national photography competition sponsored by Spiva Center for the Arts, opens to the public Saturday, April 16 and runs through Friday, May 20.

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.”

This year 98 photographers from 24 states submitted 441 images. The artists competed for $2,000 in awards.

Internationally-acclaimed collaborative photographers Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison served as jurors for the 2005 competition. The ParkeHarrisons judged entries and presented a lecture at MSSU February 27.

“The ParkeHarrisons spoke about their work and their sources of inspiration,” Mueller said. “They didn’t share information about the photographs they chose for the exhibition, or which photographers will receive awards.”

The couple selected 86 images by 59 artists for the exhibit. Twenty-nine 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 April 15 at a reception for photographers, their guests and Spiva members. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Arts of the Four States, a Joplin Globe website, will host the reception. Pianist Kevin Costley is slated to entertain.

Financial assistance for PhotoSpiva 2005 is provided by the Freeman R. Johnson Trust, Friends of St. Avips and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

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 set fee for admission.

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