Art of the Land Call for Artists, Volunteers, Sponsors and Photographers

The Fourth Annual “Art of the Land” Art Show and Benefit for The  Land  Conservancy of McHenry County will take place at the Starline Building in Harvard on September 21-22, 2012. Since 2009, TLC has worked with area artists and amateur photographers to produce a celebration of the land and all it provides. The show features artists from throughout Northeastern Illinois, music, storytelling, original video and local food. For the second year, storyteller Jim May of Alden will produce a special “Voices of the Land” feature on the first night of the event.

The Land Conservancy is a non-profit organization that works with individuals and communities to preserve natural, agricultural and scenic land throughout McHenry County. TLC has preserved over 1900 acres of natural, agricultural and scenic land across McHenry County by working with individuals and communities.

TLC is taking applications from artists who are interested in participating in Art of the Land. There is no fee to submit work for consideration, but artists agree to donate 30% of all sales to the Conservancy as a way of supporting the organization’s land preservation mission, and the artwork must help connect viewers with the land. Contact Cheryl at 815-337-9502 or cperrone@conservemc.org for an application.     

Amateur photographers are invited to participate in a photo contest with a top prize of $100. Photographers are matched with specific properties throughout McHenry County that TLC has helped preserve. The photographs will be displayed at the show, and winning photographs will be announced Saturday night, September 22, as will a People’s Choice winner. Please contact Cheryl for details, a Contest Application, and to be assigned a property.

Those interested in helping to plan the event, or who would like to volunteer at the event, are encouraged to contact TLC for more information on volunteer opportunities and the time and location of up-coming planning team meetings. Over 300 volunteer hours were donated last year by individuals who helped set up the space, install lighting, hang artwork, paint walls, serve food at the event, bartend and other similar jobs.

Finally, businesses are sought as sponsors for the event. Sponsors receive recognition in all advertising for the event, on the invitations, at the event itself, and through TLC’s website and newsletter. Please contact Cheryl at 815-337-9502 for details.