Call for Entries: 500 Years of Christianity art competition

Gifting of Sto. Nino to Queen Juana, oil on canvas by Florentino “Jun” Impas, Master Curator of Eagle Eye Charities, Inc.’s  “500 Years of Christianity and Catholic Devotion” Art Competition. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK – Religious art is one of the oldest art forms that seek to influence human behavior, a visual expression of socio-political events that intertwines with religious belief.

In line with its goal to further the development of contemporary and religious art, New York-based Eagle Eye Charities Inc. has launched an art competition to mark 500 Years of Christianity and Catholic Devotion, with a gala and grand exhibition slated at the Manila Cathedral, or at a venue to be provided in cooperation with Museo ng Ardiyosesis ng Maynila. (The quincentennial celebration has been moved due to Covid-19 restrictions that prevented the travel requirement for artists to present their works in person.)

The competition encourages young and mid-career artists to express their vision of Philippine religious values and cultural journey through the years, from 1521 to the present day. (To view a recent online mentoring by Manny Garibay on contemporary art as reflective of an artist’s search for meaning and artist Otto Neri’s talk about his art process, go to https://youtu.be/UTayyJwhsOk)

Contest is open to all Filipinos, including those of Filipino descent from the Philippines or abroad, age 15 years and above and not limited to Catholics and Christians.

The theme seeks to explore religious and spiritual art, a visual narration of Christian beliefs and Catholic practices, including but not limited to Marian devotion, figurative depiction of holy angels and saints.

Style must be representational, in contemporary realism or neo-realism genre, not abstract. Medium is oil on stretched canvas, size 30-inches by 40-inches, up to 1-inch or 1.5” thickness gallery wrapped, horizontal or vertical.

Works must be new, started not later than 2022, unsigned and has not been entered in another competition. Qualified participants will be introduced in a live broadcast through the Facebook page: https://fb.me/e/3Y8uTqmg7

Cash prizes and travel incentives await the Top 12 winners:

First Place, US$2,000; Second Place, US$1,500. Third Place, US$1,000. and nine special awards and Juror’s Choice will receive cash awards of US$200 each. The Top Three will remain in the inventory and ownership of Eagle Eye Charities, while the rest of entries will be offered for sale through online and gallery shows, at a percentage sharing between the artists and the gallery. Jurors’ decision is final. For more information, email: [email protected]

Eagle Eye Charities, Inc. and nonprofit sponsors announced that the Top 40 finalists will be invited to a roadshow in Manila, Makati and Cebu. All participants will be featured in a commemorative coffee table book that will be distributed in various churches and embassies around the globe.

Artists are invited to confirm their intent to participate and send a copy of their bio and sample of works via email to: [email protected] Those who confirm their participation before January 31, 2023 will be given additional time to finish their works, provided the painting is substantially started. Entry form and further details are found at the website: https://eaglecharities.org