TRASHED ART CONTEST: “Thing,” left, and “23 Stellated Octohedrons” are displayed at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System during the TrashedArt 2019 Contest. This year’s contest, which celebrates Earth Day, will be held virtually through the Library System’s website at mcl.org.

Due to the continuing health and safety concerns surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Mercer County Library System is closed until further notice. E-books, audiobooks, streaming media, and digital resources are still available 24/7 online.

In light of these events, the TrashedArt 2020 Contest will now be held virtually through the Mercer County Library System’s website. The contest celebrates Earth Day by encouraging patrons to turn ordinary trash into extraordinary art.

The contest is limited to one entry per artist. Students in grades 7-12 and adults who live or work in Mercer County are eligible to participate. To submit an entry, send pictures of your artwork to trashedart@mcl.org and complete the contest entry form on the Mercer County Library System’s website at mcl.org/trashedart.

Pictures must be either JPEG (JPG) or PNG and be sure to include your name in the email. The email address used to send the pictures must also be the same e-mail address listed on the contest entry form. The library will be accepting artwork until Tuesday, April 28. Selected artwork will be on display throughout the month of April on the Mercer County Library System’s website.

Entries must be original artwork. Any art medium is acceptable, so long as a minimum of 75 percent recycled content is used. Some examples of recycled content include metals, paper, rubber, glass, plastic, and cloth. The criteria for recycled materials are anything that has been manufactured and would have otherwise been thrown away. Non-recyclable materials such as glue, paint, tape, etc. are permitted. Suggestions include newspapers, fabric from old clothing, machine parts, and used building materials. For the purposes of this contest, natural materials such as rocks, dirt, bones, and sticks are not considered recycled.

The public will be able to vote for their favorite TrashedArt pieces after they have all been submitted. The winner will receive a certificate for the very first TrashedArt Virtual Contest Award. The winner will be notified by email, so participants are encouraged to check their email for updates about the TrashedArt 2020 Virtual Contest.

For more information, visit www.mcl.org.