Artists Wanted to Live Free in NYC: NYC Arts Organization Presents Self-Portrait Competition Awarding Six-Months Free Living

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 12, 2010 -- Artists Wanted is awarding one artist six-months of free living at The Edge in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In this moment of throw away fame and digital identities, this NYC arts organization returns to an age old medium - the self-portrait - asking artists to submit their stories and awarding the one portrait worth more than 15-minutes of fame. Over the past three years, Artists Wanted has become known for its innovative ability to put artists to the test and its refreshing approach to discovering and exposing the best emerging talent. Their latest contest, The Power of Self, beckons artists from all over the world to share their own stories, creating a self-portrait in their own medium, on their own terms.

The pay up for the most compelling self-portrait is six-months of living at The Edge, a new Brooklyn waterfront condominium that is equal parts luxurious and environmentally friendly. The winner of the contest can look forward to breathtaking views, distinctive design, sumptuous finishes, energy-saving appliances and more. But even those willing to pass up six-months living free of cost, there's an option of a $7,007 cash prize. Everyone who submits has a chance to have their work seen by a judging panel of self-made all stars: Twilight: New Moon director Chris Weitz, actor Steve Buscemi, Guggenheim curator Helen Hsu and Flavorpill Founder Sascha Lewis.

Artists Wanted also lends some democracy to the process, allowing the public to cast their vote. The highest rated portfolio will receive the Gawker Artists People's Choice Award of $1,000 cash and a publicity push reaching hundreds of thousands of people through the Gawker Network. Artists Wanted is joined by several art supporters who share their interest in creating innovative opportunities for artists: The Edge, Gawker Artists, Flavorpill, Artkrush and ARTLOG.

Artists Wanted was created by NYC-based artists Jason Goodman and William Etundi Jr. Their firsthand experience in the art world was the inspiration for creating a bold new platform to find burgeoning talent and exposing it to the world. After combining their art world connections, promotional expertise and aesthetic sensibility, Goodman and Etundi launched Artists Wanted with the mission of making the discovery of new artists more welcoming, dynamic and expansive. With previous sponsors such as JPEG Magazine and Red Bull, judges like DEVO front man Mark Mothersbaugh and Super Model Tiiu Kuik, and award receptions at the New Museum and Leo Kesting Gallery, their contests excite the masses.

Submitting is made simple and takes place entirely online at www.artistswanted.org. Full contest details are included below. The deadline is January 21, 2009, 11:59 p, EST.

For press inquires about Artists Wanted, please contact Nikki Bagli at 347.223.5954 or nikki(at)artistswanted(dot)org. For press inquiries about The Edge, please contact Christina Sardinas at 212.843.8269 or csardinas(at)rubenstein(dot)com.

Artists Wanted is a collaborative project between several New York City artists and creative organizations working to build new lasting opportunities for emerging talent. We have experienced first hand the difficulties in breaking into the professional art world and it is our mission to make this process more welcoming, dynamic and open-ended. www.artistswanted.org.

The Edge is located at Kent Avenue between North 5th and 7th Streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's being developed by New York-based Douglaston Development, which is revitalizing a 7.5-acre site into an exciting new residential development anchored by three distinctive residential buildings. Scheduled for occupancy in early 2010, the first phase of development will include 565 luxury residences in two condominium towers, in addition to over 60,000 square feet of retail space and an unprecedented 40,000 square foot amenity package.

Gawker Artists is a curated online art community and exhibition program promoting the works of artists of all media. Participating artists receive profile pages on Gawker Artists and are eligible to have their works published in the ad space on Gawker Media titles and included in Gawker Artist sponsored exhibitions. All participation for artists and exhibitors is free.

Flavorpill is an open network of culturally connected people. Our intuitive platform empowers Flavorpill's eagle-eyed editors, savvy users, and the world's best venues to share the most exciting and worthwhile events happening in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and London — with more cities on the way. Together, we foster and promote the arts, entertainment, and nightlife we love, embracing the underground, the mainstream, and everything in between.

Artkrush is an email magazine dedicated to the coverage of international art, design, and architecture. Each week, we spotlight notable artists, exhibitions, events, and trends, bringing you the best the art world has to offer in an easily digestible format.

ARTLOG, the leading interactive cultural directory in the US presents Arlo/Artists – A New Web Publishing System for your Portfolio Website. Arlo/Artists offers handsome themes, custom domains and a dynamic template system to design an entirely custom website, taking advantage of Arlo/Artists' user-friendly management interface. Arlo is one of the best systems available for building an attractive and functional professional portfolio website, whether you are a master of HTML/CSS/Javascript or just barely email literate. Users receive unlimited image, sound and video uploads, multimedia portfolios and blogs through a clear interface that keeps focus on the organization and promotion of their work. Additionally, users can easily switch their custom domains (eg. yourname.com) over to Arlo, connect with the Artlog.com community as well as directly post work to Facebook and Twitter.

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