Voting is underway for Jackson Hole Still Works’ annual Spirit of Wyoming Label Art Competition featuring the work of 8 Cowboy State artists. The winning artist receives $2,000 and their artwork will be the featured label on the Jackson Hole Still Works Vodka bottle for a full year.
In addition to highlighting Wyoming artists, this contest also raises money for art organizations. This year, the donations are earmarked for the Wyoming Arts Council who provides funding and support for numerous projects in every county across the state.
The deadline to vote for your favorite label and donate a $5 “vote fee” to the Wyoming Arts Council is 7:00 pm on Saturday, January 9th. Voting is happening online this year and can be submitted on the Jackson Hole Still Works website.
“The focus of all of it is to generate more attention to the talent we have here in Wyoming,” Jackson Hole Still Works Co-Owner Chas Marsh explained about the contest.
This contest, which usually happens in June, started in 2015 with a featured piece by artist Katy Ann Fox whose work is now a permanent fixture on the Jackson Hole Still Works Gin.
Fox is the mastermind behind how the contest works including the selection of panelists and defining rules such as an artist can only win the contest once.
Artists are required to submit 7-10 pieces – 1 is their entry piece for the label and the other 6-9 are portfolio pieces. In addition, they must provide information about themselves and answer a few questions. All of the artists are also required to be active; meaning they work on their art on the regular.
The panel, which includes the previous year’s winner, then researches and reviews the entries – the top 8 are selected to move on to public voting.
You can learn more about this year’s artists on the Jackson Hole Still Works Instagram page by clicking here. To vote and learn more about the competition, click here.
You can learn more about ways the Wyoming Arts Council has supported the arts in Fremont County by clicking here.