Entries Must Be Received by Wednesday, May 22

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - April 24, 2013) - - - Art is subjective, and there are a variety of mediums that can be used to create it. Middle Tennessee artists now have an opportunity to showcase their original creations in Columbia State Community College's Pryor Gallery.

"From the HeART" is a community-wide, juried art competition that is open to all artists in Middle Tennessee, hosted by the Pryor Gallery and Arts in Action, an advocacy group for art and artists in south central Tennessee. The competition is open to all visual art mediums, including oil, watercolor, acrylics and mixed media, as well as pottery and sculpted pieces.

"I am very excited about the show, and I'm looking forward to seeing artwork from all the wonderful and talented artists in Middle Tennessee," said Rusty Summerville, curator of the Pryor Gallery. "This is the first time we are holding the "From the HeART" competition, and we plan to make it an annual event."

To be accepted into the exhibit, artists must submit a photograph of their work to Summerville no later than Wednesday, May 22. Submissions can be sent by mail to Columbia State's Pryor Gallery or by email to rsummerville@columbiastate.edu. Official entry rules and entry form can be found at www.ColumbiaState.edu/art-competition or www.ArtsinActionTN.com.

Artists will be notified by Saturday, June 1 if accepted into the exhibit, which will be on display in the Pryor Gallery July 1­-31. There will be $500 in prize money awarded during the artist reception on Friday, July 12.

The Pryor Gallery is in the Waymon L. Hickman building on the Columbia campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike. For more information about the competition, please email rsummerville@columbiastate.edu or call (931) 540-2883. The competition is sponsored by Tri-Star Bank.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit http://www.columbiastate.edu.