This month's Image o' Month is unique because instead of one we have two pictures to enjoy. The special occasion is related to both of these images being accepted in this years Lancaster Museum of Art's Annual Jurord art show. Over 600 works were submitted from amateurs and professional alike with only 150 accepted in the show. The competition appears to have been quite intense.

If youre wondering why this is such a big deal its because this is my first and only submission to any kind of competitive anything. In fact, it's the first time I've submitted anything to anyone. Im a virgin art show participant so to speak. Curiously, the way this competition worked was they were supposed to call all the participants whose works werent accepted so they could be warned to pick up their treasures. Well, on the appointed day, no phone-call. Nothing& Surely they mustve lost my number and couldnt get a hold of me! There must be some kind of mistake going on and my work is piled with the others that didnt make it. To settle the whole thing, I went to the museum last weekend to confirm that yes, they specifically didnt intend to call me and no, they didnt want me to pick up my work. Driving away from the museum, I turned to my partnerRobinyou know what? She looked at me. This is kind of cool. A small smile developed on my face. Yup, I was jazzed about the whole thing.

The show will run from this weekend, 1 Feb 03, until middle of March. An extra bonus is there are cash awards given to the very best. Those will be awarded at a reception this Saturday, 1 Feb 03.

Another interesting aspect of this situation is the reactions of my closets friends and supporters. Theyre all just as jazzed as me. I guess it must be theyre feeling the payoff of having nagged me all these years to submit something to some one. I guess I finally caved to their advice and took the opportunity. Okay, its not the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It isnt the Getty Center. It is the largest showcase in a community of over 1/2 million people. That has to mean something. It does to me now.

Cheers

Tom Hill