Bi-State Competition honors Mississippi, Alabama artists
By By Penny Randall / staff writer
Feb. 2, 2003
Even though Sam Corso will visit Meridian for the first time Saturday, he said he'll feel right at home when he enters the doors of the Meridian Museum of Art.
Corso, an award-winning artist and an instructor in the Louisiana State University School of Landscape Architecture, will judge artwork in the museum's 30th Annual Bi-State Competition.
Corso said he will judge works, including the piece that wins Best in Show, based on originality. He said he looks for technique and expertise in all forms of artwork.
He also looks at "how color is used, the different design principals, but primarily the originality of the piece and what the artist is trying to say with the piece and how unusual that is."
All forms of artwork will be represented when the best artists in Mississippi and Alabama compete Saturday in the art competition.
Contest details
The Bi-State Competition the oldest juried art contest in East Mississippi and West Alabama is Meridian Museum of Art's prestigious annual exhibit that recognizes outstanding artistic achievement.
The competition begins with an opening reception at 6 p.m. followed by an awards ceremony at 6:40 p.m. The reception and awards ceremony are free and open to the public.
The 61 works featured in the exhibit were chosen from among all submissions by the judge, Sam Corso who will also select the actual award winners from the accepted works.
Corso's background
Corso, a painter and stained glass artist, is president of Dufour/Corso Studios. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Louisiana State University.
His award-winning artwork has been featured in solo and juried exhibits throughout the country, and is included in numerous private and public collections.
The Bi-State is open to current and past residents of Mississippi and Alabama. The competition offers more than $3,000 in awards and prizes, including a $1,000 Best of Show Award.
Sponsors for the 2003 Bi-State include the Meridian Council for the Arts Inc., Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the Mississippi Arts Commission and Trustmark National Bank.
