Art contest for Ventura County residents

The Buenaventura Art Association will sponsor the 22nd annual juried open art competition, which is open to all professional and amateur artists who reside in Ventura County.

The competition will award cash prizes totaling $1,600 for Best of Show, first place, second place and third place. Only one Best of Show prize will be awarded. Two awards will be given for each first through third place categories- one award for a two-dimensional work and one for three-dimensional.

Paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media pieces and photography will be accepted for consideration.

Entries are due Jan. 13 and 14 at the main Buenaventura Gallery, 700 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura. The accepted works will be on display at the gallery from Jan. 15 to Feb. 2, and all artwork will be available for purchase.

A special award will honor an area artist for extraordinary contribution to the community and the Buenaventura Arts Association. The 2008 inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Carlise Cooper, who will be a special guest at the show's reception on Jan. 19.

Cooper has been a member of the art faculty at Ventura College since 1963 and has had more than 30 oneman exhibitions in Southern California. Cooper studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago Art Institute and American Academy of Art as well as at UCLA and Chouinard School of Art. His work is in many international collections.

During the show, he'll have his own wall featuring a selection of his work.

For more information on the contest or a submission form, call (805) 648-1235 or visit www.buenaventuragallery.org.