Ten finalists whose artwork best captured the theme “Moving Lives Forward” have been selected in the Hanger Orthopedic Group, Austin, Texas, ARTroduction competition. The winning artist, to be announced in the days following an invitation-only reception on November 16, will receive a $10,000 commission. The winning artwork will be displayed for approximately two years at Hanger’s new corporate headquarters, after which time it will be auctioned off to benefit a local nonprofit organization, according to a company press release.
“This was a challenging decision,” said Judith Sims, senior director of Art education for the Austin Museum of Art and one of five ARTroduction panelists. “This kind of competition reflects the wonderful artistic talent that has been cultivated and expressed throughout the region. We believe we selected a group of finalists who have exceptionally captured the competition theme…. We can’t wait for others to see their work.”
In addition to the panelists’ decision, the more than 4,000 Hanger employees nationwide will vote on their favorite finalist’s work, who will then receive a $1,000 cash prize as the Hanger Employee Choice Award winner, as well as temporary display space for the winning artwork at one of the four Austin-area patient care centers. All ten finalists will receive $500.
“Throughout our relocation to Austin, we recognized that this region is renowned for its creativity and innovation,” said Hanger President and CEO Tom Kirk, who is also a panelist, “but the talent we encountered during this competition and in the many hires we have made this year has far surpassed our expectations.”
Images of the finalists’ work can be found at www.ARTroduction.com. Each piece of art is accompanied by a short description of its message.
The competition, which ended two months after the headquarters’ relocation on September 15, was open to any artist 18 years or older in the five-county region of Central Texas. Priority was given to artists in the early stages of their careers, but all artists within the region were encouraged to apply.
