It is not often that a school of veterinary medicine hosts an artistic competition and exhibition.
Since 1987, the “International Exhibition on Animals in Art” has provided art fans a unique opportunity to view art featuring animals.
Sue Loubiere, director of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Library, has coordinated the exhibition since its inception.
She said that the event has grown every year.
“Last year we had 741 entries,” Loubiere said. “This year we are on pace to have more than that. I still have a shoebox full of slides that I have not gone through yet.”
Loubiere said the numbers are especially impressive because of a new rule this year stating that all works of art entered in the exhibition must be for sale.
“The exhibition began as a local event with roughly 100 entries and now has grown to feature artwork from around the world,” Loubiere said.
Many of the works entered in past contests depict animals in their environments, including barnyard scenes.
Once all entries are received, they are judged by Frederick Ortner, dean of the College of Art and Design. Loubiere said Ortner will then select 75 entries to be displayed in the show.
Ortner said that it is a difficult and tedious task to judge an art contest.
“Imagine if you’re a teacher judging an essay contest,” Ortner said. “Sometimes all of the essays are awful and you say to yourself ‘How can I give out an award?’ Sometimes all of the essays are great and you say to yourself ‘How can I give out an award?'”
Ortner has a background as a painter and he said that judging art shows can sometimes provide inspiration.
Because the judging process is highly subjective, Ortner said he sometimes offers artists some direction on what he is looking for.
“At other contests I have included an example of my own work to express my point of view,” he said.
According to the event’s Web site, cash awards go out to the top 75 selected works with a $1,000 award going out to the Best of Show.
The Web site also said the Best of Show will be featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Loubiere said this is the only art show of its kind in the world, since other art shows featuring animals are more specific in what they feature.
“This show accepts all works of art featuring animals as long as it shows the animal in a positive way,” she added.
“The spirit of the exhibition is to have animals in art,” Loubiere explained.
The contest is open to all artists 18 years and older, and all media is welcome as long as it is original and in the “spirit of the exhibit,” the Web site said.
According to the Web site, there is a $10 non-refundable entrance fee and a 15 percent commission taken on each work sold.
The event usually generates $4,000 to $5,000 per year and all proceeds go to the Veterinary School Library and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital, Loubiere said.
For those interested in submitting works of art, all entries are due on Jan. 23. Entry forms can be obtained from the Veterinary Medicine Web site, www.vetmed.lsu.edu or at the Veterinary Medicine Library.
The exhibition will open on March 20 and will conclude on April 18.