“TRASHED ART CONTEST”: Winning artwork from the 2018 TrashedArt Contest is shown in the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System. Submissions for this year’s TrashedArt Contest must be received by March 8.

In March and April, art will be displayed for the 14th Annual TrashedArt Contest at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch. Patrons will have a chance to view photographs of the artwork and vote for the People’s Choice awards in person at each of the nine branches and virtually on the MCLS’ website. Winners will be announced at the TrashedArt Contest Reception at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. The contest celebrates Earth Day by encouraging patrons to turn ordinary trash into extraordinary art.

The contest is limited to one entry per artist. Classes or groups may participate only if they register ahead of time. See mcl.org/events/trashedart for details. The library will accept artwork no earlier than Wednesday, March 1 and no later than Wednesday, March 8. Selected artwork will be on display at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch throughout the months of March and April. Adult patrons (ages 14 and up) who live, work, or go to school in Mercer County are eligible to participate.

Entries must be original artwork, no larger than 2.5’ by 2.5’ by 2.5’ and no heavier than 10 lbs. 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 (but no sharp shards), plastic, and cloth. A recycled item is anything that has been manufactured and would have otherwise been thrown away. Non-recyclable materials such as glue, paint, tape, etc. are permitted. For the purposes of this contest, natural materials such as rocks, dirt, bones, and sticks are not considered recycled. The Mercer County Library System will not be held responsible for any damage, theft, or loss to art entries.

Contest entry forms will be available online at mcl.org/events/trashedart. All accepted art entries will be publicly displayed at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System, and photographs of the artwork will be displayed in person at each branch of the Mercer County Library System and virtually on the Mercer County Library System’s website. The photographs will be used for patrons to vote for the People’s Choice awards, and to create a virtual gallery which will be shared on the Mercer County Library System’s social media channels and website. To view past virtual galleries, visit the Mercer County Library System’s YouTube Channel and search for “Virtual TrashedArt Reception Slideshow (2020),” “TrashedArt 2021 Virtual Contest Gallery,” and “TrashedArt Contest 2022 Gallery”.

Entries will be anonymously judged by local artists and representatives of the Mercer County Library System on creativity, originality, and artistic merit. Judging will take place at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch before Wednesday, March 22. Grand prize winners in first, second, and third place will be awarded and announced at the TrashedArt Contest Reception on April 18. Each branch will announce their People’s Choice award winners at the TrashedArt Reception as well.

For more information, visit mcl.org.