Colorful Creature art contest deadline is March 26

This mammoth depiction by Tara Buettner of St. Edward was awarded first place in the fourth- to fifth-grade category in 2010.
This mammoth depiction by Tara Buettner of St. Edward was awarded first place in the fourth- to fifth-grade category in 2010.

The University of Nebraska State Museum is conducting its third annual "Colorful Creature" statewide art contest through March 26. All artwork received will go on exhibit at Morrill Hall as part of the museum's Colorful Creature Day event April 2. This art contest is part of a year-long celebration of the museum's 140th anniversary.

Children in pre-school through fifth grade are eligible to participate in this special challenge to create the most wildly colorful version of their favorite ancient or modern creature. The contest includes two Creature Categories: General and Mammoth. The general category includes depictions of any creature, such as an insect, bird, bear, dinosaur, rhino, buffalo or any other living thing found in nature in the past or present. The second category is for depictions of mammoths only.

Participants may submit one entry per category. Categories are combined for judging.

Entries will be judged based on creativity, imagination, and use of color. There will be first-, second- and third-place winners selected among each of the following age groups: pre-school and younger, Grades K-1, Grades 2-3 and Grades 4-5. The top three entries from each age group will be awarded gift-certificate prizes from the museum's Discovery Shop, along with the honor of having their artwork featured on the museum's Web site. Additionally, first-place winners will have their art published in an upcoming issue of Lincoln Kids newspaper. All entries will be showcased at Morrill Hall beginning April 2 as part of the museum's Colorful Creature Day, a family event where art and animals collide.

For more information, including rules and entry forms, go to http://www.museum.unl.edu/artcontest. Entries are due by March 26.

- Dana Ludvik, NU State Museum

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/fng