AP – NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY TO HOST PORTRAITURE COMPETITION

AVV 4-14 #735752

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The National Portrait Gallery is preparing for its second national competition to promote the creation of modern-day portraits.

The Smithsonian Institution museum says entries will be accepted online June 2 through July 31. Portraits created in 2007 or later from any visual art medium are eligible. The finalists will be presented in an exhibit in October 2009.

This is the second Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, which will be held every three years.

The first competition attracted more than 4,000 entries, including at least one from every state. Painted and sculpted portraits of 51 semifinalists were put on display in 2006. Wisconsin artist David Lenz won the grand prize for a painting of his son entitled “Sam and the Perfect World.”

Carolyn Carr, acting director of the National Portrait Gallery, says the competition shows the art of portraiture is alive and well.

The grand prize is $25,000.