WHAT: The Writer's Eye: 16th Annual Poetry and Prose
Competition

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 7, through Friday, Nov. 22, 2002

WHERE: U.Va. Art Museum, 155 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, Va.

Area elementary, middle, high school and University students, as well as adults, are invited to view and select one of the 19 designated works of art to inspire an original prose or poetry composition. This year's art has been selected from two exhibitions, "The Orchid Pavilion Gathering" and "Imagination on Edge," and from the museum's permanent collection.

Entries are due in the museum by Nov. 22, and will be judged in prose and poetry categories according to age groups: elementary school, middle school, high school and adult/University. Awards in each category will be given for first, second and third place along with honorable mention. Local teachers, and writers will judge the entries.

This year's elementary school judges are: Bobbie Platts-Mills, Beverly Van Hook, Susan Washko and Nura Yingling. Judges for middle school are: Heather Burns, Mark Collins, Suzanne Freeman, Wendy Gavin, Michele Kellerman and Parke Muth. The high school and University/adult entries will be judged by Susan Tyler Hitchcock and Stephen Cushman.

U.Va. Art Museum docents will begin conducting Writer's Eye tours on Oct. 7. To arrange tours, which are booked on a first-come first-served basis, call (434) 924-7458.

A program of the museum's docents, this year's competition is co-chaired by Rosemarie Koch and Janis Chevalier. For more information about the Writer's Eye program, call Koch at (434) 974-7737, Chevalier at (434) 295-1575, or the museum's Education Office at (434) 924-7458.

The University of Virginia Art Museum is open without charge Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Limited parking is available behind the museum, which is on Rugby Road. The museum is wheelchair accessible.