Greg Nyquist, a northern California photographer, took first place in the “California Art in Public Places” contest, a collaborative effort by the California Arts Council and ViewBug, an online photo-contest community website. His photo of “The Fisherman” at the Woodley Island Marina in Eureka was chosen for the top prize by a jury at Viewbug.
Prizes for Nyquist include non-monetary photography items (Holga camera and others), complimentary subscriptions (year of ViewBug Pro, 3-month subscription to ArtJob from the Western States Arts Federation, arts-related legal webinar from California Lawyers for the Arts), and a to-be-published interview with Arts Council Director Craig Watson on the agency website.
“I’m primarily a landscape photographer who seeks to capture the very essence of the beauty and color of nature,” explains Nyquist on the Panoramio website. “I set out for some of the great scenic places in the western United States in search of ‘the right image.’ I hope my images help others discover those same places and arrive at a keener, more insightful appreciation of their exquisite beauty.”
“The Fisherman” is a memorial artwork created by renowned Sonoma County artist Dick Crane, commemorating the mariners who have lost their lives at sea. It was dedicated in 1981 and is situated on Woodley Island in Humboldt Bay.
Entrants submitted photos of public art in California last fall to potentially win prizes and have their photos highlighted on a high-profile photography website. Details may be found at http://www.viewbug.com/contests/ca-arts-in-public-places-contest.
The photo contest with ViewBug — a California company based in San Diego — is one way the state’s arts agency is using technology to fulfill its mission to advance the arts and creativity. “The California Arts Council feels very strongly about showcasing California’s brilliant legacy of art created specifically for public settings – in parks, plazas, buildings and community-gathering spots,” said Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council.
The California Arts Council would like to thank ViewBug and other contest sponsors, especially the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), a regional nonprofit arts service organization, and California Lawyers for the Arts, a nonprofit statewide organization that provides legal services to artists and members of the creative arts community.
More information at http://www.arts.ca.gov/, and reporters may contact Mary Beth Barber, Information Officer, at mbarber@cac.ca.gov or 916-322-6588.
About ViewBug
ViewBug is an online photo contest community that provides the opportunity for photographers to share photos with chances to win prizes. With ViewBug, everyone can get an opportunity to be discovered. Unlike other photography competitions, ViewBug makes the photography contests fun and social by providing prizes by the best brands in the industry and including the most influential photographers as judges. Participants can also help judges select winners with a social media voting tool. A fast-growing company, ViewBug is based in San Diego with business development partners in San Francisco and Las Vegas, NV.
About the California Arts Council
The California Arts Council is the state’s arts agency with the mission to advance California through the arts and creativity. The arts council provides funding for arts education and local arts programming; advocates for arts and arts education; and informs the public of important information about the arts, especially through its comprehensive website that includes an arts job and artist call board, grant listings, arts news and other information.
