Los Angeles, CA (April 20, 2016)—The Autry Museum of the American West invites creative submissions for the museum's second annual High Five Art Contest. In accordance with this year's theme, California Continued, entries should constitute original works of art that comment on the interconnection and collaboration of Californians with the natural environment. The winning submission will be reproduced on a large-scale exterior banner at the Autry, visible from the 5 Freeway and the Los Angeles River. The winning artist or team of artists will receive a prize of $2,500. Two runner-ups will each receive $500.

The contest complements the Autry's October 2016 opening of California Continued, a nearly 20,000- square-foot exhibition spanning two new galleries and an outdoor ethnobotanical garden. Through immersive storytelling, art, artifacts, and plants, California Continued shares how traditional ecological knowledge gained through centuries of experience can help present-day residents understand and care for the California environment.

“The High Five Art Contest offers the opportunity for local residents to explore their local environment – including, but not limited to its rich history, ecological diversity, built infrastructure, and relationship with inhabitants. Through imaginative and creative works, artists can illuminate the intersection between people and environment here in the American West,” said Amy Scott, the Autry's Chief Curator and Marilyn B. and Calvin B. Gross Curator of Visual Arts.

High Five Art submissions may consist of photographs, graphic designs, paintings, or any other original works of art that are either born-digital or reproduced as a digital file. The winning submission will be identified through a tiered judging process. The Selection Committee, including three representatives of the Autry staff and three outside judges, will evaluate all entries on artistic merit, connection to the theme, originality, and ability to translate to a large banner format. Designs by ten finalists will then be exhibited inside the Autry and published online for public voting. The onsite and online votes will be combined and the design with the greatest number of votes will be declared the winner. The winning banner will be installed in October 2016, in conjunction with the Autry’s grand opening of the California Continued exhibition.

The submission deadline is July 1, 2016. For additional details about the contest and submission requirements, visit TheAutry.org/HighFiveArt.

Media Sponsor: KCRW 89.9 FM

About the Autry Museum of the American West

The Autry is a museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past to the present to inspire our shared future. The museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs—including lectures, film, theatre, festivals, family events, and music—and performs scholarship, research, and educational outreach. The Autry’s collection of more than 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection, one of the largest and most significant in the United States.

Museum admission is $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors 60+, $4 for children ages 3–12, and free for Autry members, veterans, and children age 2 and under. Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.

Hours

Museum and Autry Store:

Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Crossroads West Cafe:

Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The museum, store, and cafe are closed on Mondays. Visit TheAutry.org for more information.

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