Public Invited to See Winning Poster Unveiled

The winner of the 2011 "THINK CLAYTON, THINK ART" poster contest, which generated exceptional work, will be announced Thursday, June 9 at a "meet the artists" reception at The Clayton Center.

Everyone is invited to the free reception, which begins at 6 pm, and to view entries in the contest, which will be exhibited at The Clayton Center all during June.

"The quality of the work is outstanding," said Clayton Center Auditorium and Conference Center Executive Director Heidi Stump. "Plus, I think there are pieces on exhibit that would be of particular interest for our local merchants to display in their store, and hopefully purchase as a permanent piece. All of the pieces are relevant to Clayton and celebrate our community. This reception will be an important event for the arts in Clayton."

The winner of the competition will be awarded a $1,000 prize.

The reception is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Center, which is located downtown at 111 East Second Street. Dress is casual, and refreshments will be available.

The contest, which is sponsored by Clayton Visual Arts, is held every two years. Dan Lee won the 2009 competition with his painting, "Morning Bridge," which depicted one of the town's most beautiful scenes.

Lee, who finished the painting just in time for the contest, said deciding on what to paint was difficult, but he couldn't resist "Clayton's most pleasant gateway."

"Much can be found in and around the town of Clayton that exemplifies the best in southern charm and hospitality, and in my opinion, the south gateway into historic downtown serves as an excellent introduction and first impression," Lee said after winning the 2009 competition. "Since the inception of the Clayton Poster Competition, a great number of portrayals, renderings and interpretations have been submitted over the past eight years or so; depicting familiar and cherished scenes and landmarks around the town of Clayton. So many so, it has become more challenging each year to paint what hasn't been painted before. But, it is a challenge every artist continually faces; to see and share what is being overlooked in a more appreciative or creative way. The desire to inspire lies at the core of meaningful works and creativity."