Carmel Cortona Sister Cities Committee sponsoring new art contest to honor Renaissance painter Luca Signorelli
Attention young teen artists! The Carmel Cortona Sister Cities Committee has launched a contest for artistic painters aged 14 to 19 who can create a piece of art that pays honor to Luca Signorelli, an Italian Renaissance painter from Carmel’s Sister City, Cortona, Italy.
On the 500th anniversary of Signorelli’s death, a highly anticipated “Signorelli 500” exhibit has been planned in Cortona and the young artists of Carmel will have their winning selections included alongside of others in Cortona.
Cash prizes will be paid to the winning artists. The works will be judged here in Carmel and the first-place winner will receive a $200 cash prize. Second place will receive $100, and third place will receive $50. Winning artwork will also be displayed in Carmel.
Who was Luca Signorelli?
The artist is a much celebrated and revered citizen of Cortona. The students from Luca Signorelli Higher Education Institute of Cortona filmed, wrote, and produced a video about the artist, which you can see at this link.
Signorelli is most revered for his rendering of figures in action and his unparalleled mastery of the human anatomy, which came to full fruition with his world renowned Orvieto frescoes. Such was his reputation, he formed part of an elite group of artists summoned by Pope Sixtus IV to decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Signorelli is said to have influenced Michelangelo and Raphael.
“The mission of the Carmel Cortona Sisters City Committee is to promote cultural and educational exchanges between citizens of Carmel and Cortona,” said Julie Standish, who serves on the Committee and works with the youth and education program. “We see this contest as a way to promote figurative art through references to the work of this great artist from Cortona, share that art with the people of Cortona and Carmel and further the bond between the two cities.”
The exhibition in Cortona will bring together more than 40 works by the artist from prestigious Italian and foreign museums, including important loans from private collections and overseas. Students in Carmel will also have a chance to have their art exhibited in Cortona.
Contest rules
Artwork should be based on the spirit and style of Luca Signorelli. Participants must be 14 to 19 years old and submit original artwork of the student’s creation. Students must live in Carmel or attend school in Carmel. The accepted techniques are: oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, graphics, collage, expressed (pure or mixed) on canvas, paper, or other suitable support. An exact image of the art must be submitted through the form at this link.
Competitors will be able to participate with a maximum of two original works in the format not smaller than 12 by 16 inches and not larger than 40 by 40 inches, which must be delivered or sent by Aug. 31 to Carmel City Hall.
Original artwork dropped off at City Hall should include the artist’s name, email, and phone number. An artist cannot win more than one prize. Click here for more information.