Zoo Seeks Artists to Get Back to Nature at First Juried Art Event

Zoo Seeks Artists to Get Back to Nature at First Juried Art Event
Salvador Monkey & Van Goat to Feature Original, Animal-Related Visual Art

WHO: Arkansas artists
Little Rock Zoo

WHAT: Salvador Monkey & Van Goat:
The inaugural juried art event benefiting the Little Rock Zoo

WHEN: 5 p.m., Monday, September 29 – Postmark deadline for accepted artwork
• 4 p.m., Wednesday, October 1, 2008 – Artwork accepted at the Zoo
• Thursday, October 2 – Juror selections
• Friday, October 3 – Winners notified
• 6 p.m., Saturday, October 4 – Reception

WHERE: Little Rock Zoo, #1 Jonesboro Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205

BACKGROUND: Salvador Monkey & Van Goat is the inaugural juried art event, exhibition and fundraiser sponsored by and benefiting the Little Rock Zoo. The event is open to any visual artist in Arkansas.

Any kind of visual art – paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, etc. – created by Arkansas artists for the event must be original, animal-oriented and completed within the timeframe of the competition. Robert Reep, an artist and gallery owner in Little Rock, will jury the entered pieces and select the top 25.

The top 25 selected works will be on display at the Zoo on Saturday, October 4. Prizes for winning artists include a free family membership to the Little Rock Zoo and:
• $1,000 First Place
• $500 Second Place
• $250 Third Place
• $250 Audience Favorite
The first place winner of the juried art event also will have his or her image used in marketing and promotion for the Zoo in 2009. Awards will be presented at the October 4 reception in Cafe Africa featuring a silent auction with paintings by animal artists; tickets to the reception are $25 per person.
For an application outlining event specifics or more information, call Susan Altrui at 501-661-7208 or email saltrui@littlerock.org.

About the Little Rock Zoo
The Little Rock Zoo has long been one of Arkansas' great treasures. It all began modestly in 1926, with just two animals — an abandoned timber wolf and a circus-trained brown bear. Today, the Zoo has grown to include more than 725 animals representing 200+ species, many on the endangered list. The Zoo itself has become one of the state's greatest educational and conservation resources.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org.

For More Information, Contact:

Susan Altrui, 501-661-7208 or saltrui@littlerock.org