The Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago will host its fourth annual Student Juried Competition this spring, but this time it’s a theme show and the theme is BLING! We all have to admit that we are living in heavy times - in an election year, a year dedicated to political dissent in the arts nationwide, the DFPA felt that now was the time to bust out and have a l’il fun. Thus, BLING was born. We’re mixing it up this year so ALL you Chicago-area students (from any Chicago college, university and art school) are invited to submit works in ANY medium to be displayed in the Crown Center Gallery and judged by a panel of Chicago art personalities. So let us see how YOU express your fabulous self.

The show will be judged by three local arts personalities. Michelle Fire is a serious art collector and owner of Big Chicks bar and Tweet, as well as an artist in her own right. Sergio Gomez is co-owner of the 33 Collective Gallery and director of VisualArtToday.com. Artist Brenda Bramel is an alumna of our very own Loyola who has been active in shaping the Chicago gallery scene in the last few years.