Do you have an eye for visual or video art?
Here’s your chance to pick the winners of the ‘Oakland Together’ Safety Video & Art Contest. Voting is easy and it’s online. Now until 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7th, you can vote once a day to select a favorite video and visual art from two categories: Oakland County youth ages 10-17 and those age 18 and above. The theme was the continuing importance of practicing COVID-19 safety.
Those interested may vote once a day for the entries that best promote and encourage COVID safety. Voters can view the videos and visual art and vote for as many finalists across any of the categories at www.oakgov.com/covid/contests. Voting ends on Friday, August 7th at 5 p.m. The finalists in each category who receives the most public votes will be the winners.
“We have some incredibly talented people who have shown their passion and creativity in capturing the importance of wearing masks and social distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said. “Each of these artists has embraced the message that the virus is still with us and working as Oakland Together is the most effective way for us to beat COVID-19. I congratulate them all and thank them for their entries.”
The four finalists in the age 10-17 Visual Arts category are:
- Rave Andrews, 16, West Bloomfield
- Maria Clark, 10, Berkley
- Steven Lowenberg, 13, Southfield
- Natalie Radabaugh, 16, Rochester Hills
The finalists in the 18 and over Visual Arts category are:
- Angela Clark, Berkley
- Sydni Gothard, Waterford
- Paul O’Hara, Rochester Hills
The finalists in the age 10-17 Video category are:
- Owen Glossinger, 15, Beverly Hills
- Charlisa Penzak, 12, Bloomfield Hills
- Lucy Thomson, 12, Clawson
- Aidan Wilson, 11, Royal Oak
The finalists in the age 18 and over Video category are:
- Edith Dana, Commerce Township
- A’Kena LongBenton, Troy
- Eli Sider, Huntington Woods
The contest was open to original artwork submitted by the original creator, including but not limited to video, painting, drawing, photography, illustration and printmaking. Artwork was to promote and encourage COVID safety, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state of Michigan protocols.
A panel of judges selected the top entries from each age group and category. Criteria included creativity, overall artistic impact in communicating safety during COVID-19 and skill in mastering the chosen medium. Each finalist will receive $100; category winners will each be awarded an additional $250 for a total of $350 combined with their finalist prize.
Winners will be announced Tuesday, August 11th, and their entries will be displayed virtually on the county’s website, www.oakgov.com, social media channels and www.OaklandCountyProsper.com through September 30th.
They will also be considered for use in upcoming public service announcements. The artists will be given credit if their creations are used.
Stay up to date about the coronavirus disease in the county and explore more information at www.oakgov.com/covid.
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